'Life lessons in the game': Blue Jays host baseball camp in Charlottetown

Island baseball players enjoyed their own field of dreams as one of the all-time greats for the TorontoBlue Jayspaid a visit to P.E.I.

Former outfielder Jesse Barfieldwas amongthe guest instructors at the two-dayJays Super Camp at Memorial Field aspart of the Blue Jays Baseball Academy.

Forty-one up-and-coming players between the ages of 9-16, had a chance to rub shoulders with some former Major League players, spending the day covering thefundamentals of the game of baseball:hitting, infield, outfieldand pitching.

'A lot of life lessons'

"Baseball's not important for just on the field, there's a lot of life lessons in the game," Barfield said.

"It all starts at home plate and it ends at home, alot of life lessons."

"These kids are great. We have fun out there, and I always tell them you gotta have fun, but you've got to do your best to treat people right," Barfield added.

'Extra shot in the arm'

"You look at Memorial Field on a Wednesday morning and between the players and parents ...there's lots of buzz,"said Randy Byrne,executive director ofBaseball PEI.

"Last week, people have been calling,emailing, talking to me about the Blue Jays coming," Byrne said."Baseball's been strong in the province the last number of years, but it just gives it that little extra shot in the armand keeps the profile up for the sport on P.E.I."

Blue Jays alumni Tanyon Sturtze and Sandy Alomar Sr.acted as instructorswith assistance from local coaches.

Coaches were invited onto the field to observe, participate and ask the Jays instructors questions in the ultimate Major League experience.

'Always more to learn'

"We have 10 different coaches here helping as volunteers and some have a lot of experience in baseball ... you learn things that you didn't know, and that's one thing about being a coach is that no matter how much you think you know, there's always more to learn."

Each participant received a Blue Jays hat, T-shirt, a baseball manual and the opportunity to get autographs from the Blue Jays alumni.

Jesse Barfield and Randy Byrnehope the players take home much more than just the skills they've learned at camp.

'Chance to get better'

"Dedication, discipline and determination;" Those are thethree factors you needto be a champion, Barfield said.

He's instilled that lesson in the childrenand he said he's encouraged by how attentive they've been at camp so far.

"They're not messing around, they're not giggling, they're listening. I like that about them they have a chance to be get better."

"It's great to see the kids paying attention and learning, and hopefully they learn a few things from each instructor that they'll carry with them throughout their future baseball career," added Byrne.

The two-day camp wraps up Thursday at Memorial Field in Charlottetown.

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