Husker Baseball Players Inspire Next Generation at Grand Island Youth Camp
GRAND ISLAND – Monday area kids got to learn and hone their baseball skills with Husker baseball players during a camp at the Platt Duetsche.
Conor Behrens Director of Baseball Operations at Nebraska said the camp covers all the bases in teaching fundamental baseball skills.
“This morning we worked on our catch play, base running, defensive stuff that we go through every day in Husker baseball,” said Behrens. “We are showing them what our Nebraska coaches go through with our players on a daily basis.”
The camp is one-on-one interaction between the kids and Husker players doing fun baseball drills.
Husker players at the camp were Tucker Timmerman, Rhett Stokes, Larry Fikes, Miken Miller, and Grand Island natives, and new Huskers Cohen Nelson and Gage Gannon.
Nelson said coming back to teach baseball skills to kids at the Platt Duetsche baseball field where he played as a kid was a full circle moment.
“It’s pretty cool to be back at this field and be the role to these kids as one I used to look up to when I was their age playing here,” said Nelson.
Gannon also enjoyed the nostalgia of his former little league field.
“I grew up on this field and when asked to come back and asked to help some kids out here I said absolutely, I love to be here,” said Gannon.
“I haven’t been out here in a long time, it’s pretty cool to get to be here with these kids and experience it once again.”
The kids who not only enjoyed hanging with the Husker players said they learned some valuable skills to get better at the game.
Grayson Gideon, 11, said the camp taught him some skills to be a better infielder.
“They taught us that when we are fielding the ball to really get down on it and make sure it is in the glove before you throw it,” he said.
These Husker baseball camps are held every year throughout the state of Nebraska.
The camp culminated with the Husker players doing a home run derby for the kids.