Future Varsity Vikings Learn Baseball at Annual Clinic

Even though the Schreiber Vikings baseball season ended nearly a month ago, the team has continued to train, and is even helping to hone the skills of the future of Port Washington's baseball program.

On Thursday, the Schreiber High School varsity and junior varsity baseball teams ran a baseball skills clinic for athletes in grades three through eight at the Guggenheim Elementary School baseball fields. While the weather wasn't the best, it didn't stop a number of Port Washington's finest ball players from coming out and showing off their skills.

"It means a lot. It makes me very happy actually," Schreiber varsity coach Matt Holzer said of the clinic and its turnout. "The kids came out and are working hard. It seems like they love baseball, which is always a good thing so we can continue to build a winning program here. This is where it really starts, at this age. Get them involved, get them hooked on baseball, and work their way up the system."

The stations at the clinic ranged from the hitting and fielding fundamentals to base running and outfield skills. There was even an area devoted to catching, run by Schreiber varsity catcher Wayne Baker.

"It's a good experience to give back to the community, especially after playing for coach Holzer at PAL when I was younger," Baker said. "I think it was very successful and I hope that there are more of these clinics throughout the year."

While much of the clinic was devoted to the Weber Middle School team, several of Port Washington's third- and fourth-graders came out and learned a few new things from members of the junior varsity team, including sophomore Liam Adaio.

"It feels good because I get to pass on coach Holzer's mentoring to the younger kids, so that way they can practice that up through their baseball careers," Adaio said. "Holzer doesn't have to worry when he has them as baseball players."

And if you think that it's tough to teach third-graders how to play baseball, think again. Just ask Nicholas Scardieno, one of the third-graders on hand, who actually corrected some of the JV players that were coaching him.

"Isn't that the shortstop's ball?" Scardieno asked after the second baseman grabbed a ball that wasn't his.

Every player seemed to be learning something new thanks to the coaching of the Schreiber players. JV coach Phil Spotteck said the earlier the kids learn, the easier it is on himself and the other coaches.

"It's great to see the knowledge that I've taught them now being portrayed to the younger kids," Spotteck said. "Because once they learn it at a younger age and then they come up to me at the JV level, it's a lot easier for me."

He added, "I can take them further with their skills if they know the basics, so teaching these kids how to do this in third-, fourth-, fifth-, sixth-, and seventh-grade will help us at the JV and varsity level to really go further and take the program to the next level."

Holzer said he thought the baseball clinic showed that there will be a long line of baseball stars who will lead the Schreiber Vikings for years to come.

"It's kind of gratifying," Holzer said of the coaching chain that has developed. "It shows that they actually understood some of the stuff that we went over. I'm very proud of them. They're doing a really nice job of getting the kids involved and teaching them. They're excited, so the kids are feeding off of it. I'm proud of them."

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