Youth Baseball Clinic helps younger players learn new skills

By Matt Pascarella

Windham’s varsity baseball team conducted its final week of a youth baseball clinic at Windham High School on Sunday, March 23 and called it a success as both varsity and younger players gear up for exciting seasons.

Windham fifth grader Jacoby Penney keeps his focus on the
ball while in the batting cage at Windham High School
during the Windham Youth Baseball Clinic on
Sunday, March 23. PHOTO BY MATT PASSCARELLA   

This six-week clinic is a perfect opportunity for youth to work on the skills of the game, while learning new techniques from current Windham High varsity baseball players and coaches.

“To practice and get better for a new season is why I’m here,” said Windham fifth-grader Alex McGonagle. “It helps me to get better and more in shape for the new season. I’ve learned how to control the ball more and hit better. I’ve learned how to just scoop the ball up when you’re running. It feels like you are one of the varsity players when practicing with them – my dream is to play varsity – they inspire me so much that I want to pursue my career in baseball and become a Major League Baseball player. Thanks to the community for letting us come here and learn so much.”

The youth clinic was broken up into three sections: infield/outfield, pitching and hitting.

“The goal of the clinic is it goes right in line with the culture and perspective of our program so we’re trying to build everything from the ground up,” said Windham High varsity baseball coach Chris Doughty. “That starts with T-ball, AA, AAA, Little League, Middle School until eventually they make it to the end goal for us which is them being at the varsity level.”

The varsity team emphasizes their culture, making sure younger players have characteristics of what they want in their program like positive attitude, hustle and good character.

When Doughty first started participating in these clinics three years ago, they had 30 kids sign up, and this year there were about 70 kids who participated.

Doughty said Windham baseball is on people’s minds, and they want to be a part of what the varsity program is doing and that starts at the youth level.

“I need the extra help to get better and I’m learning new fundamentals and skills to be just as good when the baseball season starts up,” said Windham fifth-grader Jacoby Penney. “I’m working towards playing varsity baseball.”

It's good life experience for varsity players and Doughty tells them before every single clinic that the younger kids look up to them. “You’re their heroes, talk to them, instruct, but most importantly give them your time because that goes a long way,” he said.

Doughty wants them to remember what it felt like when varsity players were young and a varsity player worked with them, and how cool that felt.

“It gives us a chance to give out our knowledge to these younger players and it boosts our program as a whole and teaches these kids essential lessons that they need starting out,” said Windham varsity senior Joshua Plummer. “The idea is we teach them what we know and by the time they are our age, they’ll already be ahead of the game. This helps us with our game the way we field the ball ... it’s good to teach them the things that I know. It feels great to be able to share knowledge in a sport that I know and am passionate about – this is a really fun thing for me; I really enjoy working with these kids.”

It's been a great six weeks for the varsity players and the coaches. Participants have seen steady improvement in at least one area of a youth player’s game.

Varsity players say that it feels great for the team to be able to give back to the community. <

Players work on fundamentals during Windham Youth Softball Clinic

By Matt Pascarella

Every year, the varsity softball team runs youth clinics for kids in Windham and surrounding areas as an opportunity for younger players to get to know coaches and learn from the older varsity players.

Windham High School varsity softball player Kennedy
Kimball instructs an group of younger players in fundamental
skills during the Windham Youth Softball Clinic at Windham
High on March 16. PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA 

The clinic lasts six weeks and is open to ages 6 to 12. Their second-to-last clinic of the year was conducted at Windham High School on Sunday, March 16. It was a great opportunity for younger players to learn more about the mechanics of the game while also having fun and getting to know the WHS coaches and varsity players.

“It's important for me as a high school coach to empower my athletes and I think putting them in situations where they can lead and teach youth athletes gives them more confidence when they step onto the high school field,” said Windham varsity softball coach Darcey Gardiner. “I get to know the kids and probably more importantly they get to know me and the high school athletes. My goal is to see those girls all come to tryouts their freshman year of high school. It’s important for me as a varsity coach to interact with kids all the way down to coach-pitch, that’s what we had here today. The more girls that we can keep interested in softball then the better our program and culture is as a whole.”

By participating in these softball clinics, when these younger players get to high school, they know exactly what is expected of them and are already familiar with the drills and what they want to get out of each drill they do. The growth that coaches see from the start of the clinic to its finish is tremendous.

Windham catcher Eva Doughty, a fifth grader, said she can’t wait to get better and play this year. At the clinic, Doughty got a chance to catch for a varsity player and she said it was hard but she tried her best and had a lot of fun.

“I have done this clinic years before and I always thought it helped start the season,” said Windham eighth-grader Niyah Cummings, who helped out during the clinic this year. “It helps me build relationships with the high schoolers as well as the younger kids. The varsity high school players are having fun and showing what it’s like to be a ‘big kid’ in the sport they love.”

The clinic is split into three sections: baserunning, fielding and hitting.

Coach Gardiner and the varsity players make it exciting for the younger players with a high level of enthusiasm.

“I love softball, and I love sports in general,” said Windham fifth-grader Colby Sargent. “I’ve just been playing since I was very little. I like how the high schoolers come in because they are very inspiring; we have the potential to be on the varsity team, so they’re basically just teaching us how to be good like them.”

Another positive aspect of the clinic is for the older and younger players to meet and lessen any intimidation that might be there for the younger players. The varsity players also might gain a new fan or two.

Varsity players and Gardiner want younger players to come watch them play. The varsity team also wants to continue to be role models for the community.

“I think it’s a good way for us to see some of the young talent coming up,” said Windham senior varsity player Kennedy Kimball about the clinic. “It’s good for us to see them and for them to meet older girls and to see and get some experience from us as well as have Coach Gardiner be able to look at what’s to come and keep girls in the program. It’s nice to be able to talk to them and know that you’re not just one of the people on the team, and that you actually help them.”

There’s one more clinic left; it will be at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, March 23 in the Windham High School gymnasium. The cost to participate is $15. <

Sandlot baseball a relaxed opportunity to play Little League

Windham fourth-grader Mason Clapp throws a pitch during a 
Windham Little League Sandlot baseball game at Ciccerone 
Field at Lowell Farm in Windham on Aug. 3.
PHOTO BY MATT  PASCARELLA  

By Matt Pascarella

After very successful summer and All-Star seasons, Windham Little League baseball and softball is closing out the summer with a Sandlot league.

In the Sandlot league ball, there are no umpires and no coaches. Strikes, balls and outs are loosely kept track of, and the score isn’t as important as having fun and playing the game fairly.

The second Sandlot game of the season was played at Ciccerone Field at Lowell Farm in Windham on Wednesday, Aug. 3.

In Windham’s Sandlot league, players ages 7 to 12 are given the opportunity to play with other players from softball and baseball that they don’t often compete against in the regular or All-Star seasons.

Some of the older players outside that age bracket are invited to play and help teach the younger players.

Windham Little League President Tim Gaudet said that the Sandlot league is important because it gets kids out of the house later in the summer and gives them a chance to hang out with their friends while playing America’s favorite pastime.

While the games are more about fun and less about score, participants are having a blast playing Sandlot.

Windham players had several nice hits during the second Sandlot game: sixth-grader Ryan Manning singled to left field, home-schooler Jordan Tom doubled, freshman Belle Pinto and third-grader Brooke Legere both singled; first-grader Jack Bisson also got a couple good hits during the game. 

Windham sixth-graders Gianna Lane and Maddie Valliere say they enjoyed playing in the Sandlot games. They said it’s more intense to play with the boys, but the more aggressive game is fun.

“It gives [Jack] an extra opportunity to play with older children, learn from them, just stay involved with Little League,” said Windham parent Meaghan Bisson.

Bisson said Jack is given more confidence during the sandlot games. For Jack to be able to play with and learn from the older kids in a relaxed setting has improved his hitting.

This is the fourth or fifth year that Windham Little League has had a Sandlot league. While the league is a no-pressure, no-score game where the objective is fun, sometimes Gaudet will take the opportunity to teach an individual the correct way or rule behind a play.

Windham fourth-grader Mason Clapp said he likes getting together with all the players for a Sandlot game. He’s not used to playing alongside softball players, but it’s still fun.

Sandlot league helps players grow athletically and socially.

“I know kids that have never played before came out and played Sandlot when they were younger and now, they’re in our Majors program,” said Gaudet. <