Here is a press release about a FirstSwing baseball/softball camp in Bellevue in August:

The “Funnest” Camp of ALL!!!!!!!

The FirstSwing Foundation is hosting its sixth annual Bellevue baseball/softball camp at Clyde Hill School Fields August 9-13th. The Camp will be for youngsters 5-13 years old, 9am to noon each day. Tuesday, August 10th, from 1-4pm there will be special skill sessions with games. As FirstSwing is NOT doing these with the City of Bellevue, you must register with FirstSwing directly.(See below)

The mission of these camps is to teach “life’s little lessons” and the fundamentals of baseball/softball within the baseball environment. Each day, the camp focuses on the three basic baseball/softball skills, provides drills, and practice for the skills, and then plays a game using what has been taught. There is a syllabus that accompanies the camp which empowers the parents to continue teaching and reinforcing the proper mechanics of hitting, throwing, fielding, base running, and other aspects of the game. FirstSwing stresses the importance of practice, work ethic, problem-solving, and decision-making. Moreover, the players receive “lessons” in conditioning, nutrition, baseball math, manners(yep, manners), and MORE!!

The camp includes unique learning games and a number of competitions to measure bat speed, baseball competencies, and related skills. There is a Home Run Derby, Bunt-a-thon, and Target Ball Challenge. Each ball player may request a written evaluation upon completion with recommended drills, etc to encourage the player to practice in order to “Get Good”!

Parents and coaches are encouraged to attend and take part. Phil Rognier, the Executive Director, has coached at every level of baseball(to include “Small Ball”, 2-4 year olds)), taught the game to thousands of coaches and players, and subscribes to the “children above ideology” thinking that empowers young players and does not enable them. He has a Masters Degree in Education and has an international Baseball Connect program which has camps in Portugal, Vietnam, Thailand, as well as in other states in the United States. Coach Phil conducts Coaches’ Clinics for parents and Little Leagues, and has published numerous books and articles regarding the game of baseball.

The cost of the Camp is $105(family plan: $150 for 2) for the 5-day camp and $40 for the Skills afternoon. You may register by emailing Coach Phil: phrog38@hotmail.com.(The form is below) Questions may be either emailed or call 425-451-8276.
Checks are to: FirstSwing, PO Box 497, Medina, WA 98039.

Bring glove, athletic or baseball shoes, water, and an attitude to WORK HARD!! No seeds, candy, gum, or soda pop!!

Each camper will receive daily gifts to include a MoonJar, Topps baseball cards, Wiz Kid figures, and many surprises!! Find out what the Red Hippo is!!!! It is FUN and educational and you get to PLAY BALL!!!

References on request. Thank you and GAGPTH! Coach Phil

You may visit firstswingbaseball.org to get a general overview of FirstSwing’s camps and other learning opportunities!!

REGISTRATION FORM

NAME_______________________________________________________

ADDRESS____________________________________________________

CITY____________________________________ ZIP_________________

PHONE________________________ AGE____ Date of Birth___________

E-Mail address(legible PLEASE)_______________________________________

Please fill this out and send it to: FirstSwing, PO Box 497, Medina, WA 98039

I just got off the phone with Newport senior Trace Tam Sing, who yesterday was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 22nd round.

Tam Sing said he was told to be expected to be drafted anywhere from the fifth to the tenth round. When that didn’t happen, he just figured it was a matter of time.

“I was waiting on the edge of my seat,” he said.

Finally, an unknown number popped up on his cell phone. It was Pat Portugal, Boston’s regional scout, calling to tell Tam Sing the Red Sox had drafted him.

Tam Sing said he thinks his commitment to play at Washington State was a factor in his 22nd round selection. He said his plans next year are “up in the air” now and that he’ll meet with Red Sox officials soon to talk potential contracts.

Regardless of if he signs or not, Tam Sing will fly to Boston July 6. Each year the Red Sox have all of their draftees play in a game at Fenway in front of the team personnel.

“It’s an amazing feeling to be drafted by Boston,” Tam Sing said. “Their teams are always great and their history is amazing.”

“Yesterday was probably the best day of my life but you wouldn’t have known it if you saw me because I was just in shock all day,” he added. “It’s definitely a dream come true.”

There it is. Newport senior Trace Tam Sing was just drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 22nd round. The Red Sox took Tam Sing with the 683rd overall pick.

Tam Sing is heading to Washington State University next season. I can’t imagine the pick would change his plans but I’ll get in touch with him regardless. Update soon.

The second day of the Major League Baseball draft is underway. So far, three players from Washington have been drafted and all three have been drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Rays selected Bishop Blanchet’s Josh Sale, a highly touted prospect, with the No. 17 pick then followed that up by taking Central Kitsap’s Drew Vettleson with the 42nd overall pick. Today, the Rays selected Highline’s Ryan Brett. That gives the Rays Washington’s top three prospects.

It will be interesting to see if any area players get token selections. While some players, like Newport’s Trace Tam Sing, have already committed to college (in Tam Sing’s case, with Washington State), you just never know what could happen once your name gets called by a big league club.

I’ll be sure to pass across any more Washington draftees.

Update, 11:39 a.m.Washington has its fourth selection come off the board – Oregon State pitcher Greg Peavey, a Hudson’s Bay grad. Peavey was selected with the 182nd pick by the New York Mets.

Update, 12:23 p.m.Jackson grad and Lewis-Clark State catcher Kawika Emsley-Pai was picked by the Diamondbacks with the 301st pick.

Update, 12:45 p.m. I somehow missed the Mariners selecting Woodinville’s Luke Taylor in the ninth round. Taylor is a 6-foot-6, 200-pound right-handed pitcher.

Update, 12:57 p.m. University of Portland right-hander Zach Varce was selected in the 11th round by the Yankees. Varce is a West Seattle grad. varce is teammates with Bellevue grad Jeff Melby at the University of Portland.

Update, 2:07 p.m. San Francisco selects Edmonds Community College right-handed pitcher Ryan Bean with the 528th overall pick in the 17th round. Bean is 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds.

Update, 2:24 p.m. Two Washington products taken in 18th round. Detroit takes second baseman Josh Ashenbrenner, a senior second baseman at Lewis-Clark State who prepped at Lake Washington High School in Kirkland with the 553rd pick. The Dodgers nabbed Chad Arnold out of Washington State nine picks later. The right-handed pitcher is a graduate of Southridge High School.

Update, 2:42 p.m. St. Louis nabs West Seattle High School shortstop Travis Martin in the 20th round.

The Eastside Red FC U18 boys soccer team will be collecting recyclable items at Bellevue College from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday in partnership with Bellevue College and Green Planet.
Green Planet is a non-profit recycling organization that gives back to the community by helping recycle equipment. The fundraiser is supporting team travels to tournaments throughout the United States, where players have the opportunity to connect with and be seen by college coaches.

The U18 team has numerous Eastside students, including Sammamish players Taylor Berg and Stuart Ellsworth and Newport’s Kyle Savette, Nick Shankland, Perry Nunes and Connor Duggan.

The team will be collecting computers, printers, fax machines, radios, TV’s, VCR’s and other electronics, as well as batteries and other hard-to-recyle items. Donations will be accepted.

Last night was the annual KingCo senior feeder game, with the Crest beating the Crown Division 13-7.
Newport’s Jeff Gonzales picked up the win, pitching the third and fourth innings and allowing no runs on two hits while striking out two.

Under Armour and Baseball Factory will be hosting an open tryout for high school baseball players on Sunday at Bellevue High School at 1 p.m.

All baseball players ages 13-18 are welcome to attend. Baseball Factory’s staff of scouts, former professional players and former college coaches will evaluate players on the field and lead a college recruiting question and answer session in which players will learn about the process and the steps to take in order to increase their chances of playing college baseball.

Top players from the tryout may be selected for one of the following national teams or events: Under Armour Southwest Regional Tournament, Omaha Pro Select Training and Tournament, USA Baseball 16U Championships and the Under Armour All-America Game, held at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois.

Registration begins at noon. The fee is $99.

…for the next few days. I’ll be heading out of town on vacation beginning tomorrow morning. But fear not, as we still have you covered as far as state championship action.

Before I dive in to that, let’s take a look at some pre-state stuff.

Here’s a story I wrote on Sammamish doubles pair Anissa Bryant-Swift and Malia Lum. The fun-loving duo looks to defend their 3A state championship this weekend. I wish every subject was as fun to interview as these two were – plus I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone have more fun at a photo shoot than these two.

The state golf tournaments wrapped up today with local golfers faring quite well.

Bellevue softball heads to state for the first time since 1988. The Wolverines play Bonney Lake at 11 a.m. on Friday in the opening round. Coach Heather Tracy, who won a state title as an assistant at Shorecrest in 2001, said the Wolverines are ready and raring to go.

Finally, here’s a full list of the area’s state track and field competitors.

Since it will be quiet here in the next few days, at least on the blog front, any news or submissions can be sent to editor Craig Groshart at cgroshart@bellevuereporter.com. He’ll be trying to make sure everything is kept up to date online for you all in my absence.

As the season winds down, as do our highlights. Here’s a look at what stood out in the last week of area sports.

Girls Tennis
Anissa Bryant-Swift and Malia Lum of Sammamish beat Kate Jameson and Grace Porter of Bainbridge 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 on Wednesday to capture the SeaKing District doubles championship. Bryant-Swift and Lum, the defending 3A state champions, qualified to return to the state tournament next weekend.

Boys Tennis
Dragos Puscalau of Sammamish beat Jordan Smith of Mercer Island 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 to finish third at the boys SeaKing District championships Wednesday.

Baseball
Eric Wollebek went 3 for 3 with a leadoff triple and scored the only run for Sammamish in a 6-1 loss to O’Dea Tuesday in a state play-in game.

Rugby
Gabe Eiger (Bellevue Christian), Alex Cannon (Interlake) and Tomas Narvaja (Sammamish) all scored tries in the Eastside Lions 58-10 victory over the Shelton Savages Saturday.

Softball
Katie Savard knocked in three runs and Taylor Cooke fell a home run short of the cycle in Bellevue’s 12-0 win over Eastside Catholic in the first round of the Sea-King 3A District Tournament Thursday. Emily Fleischman improved to 16-6 with a five innings of one-hit ball in the circle. The Wolverines kept rolling in game two, beating Nathan Hale 9-0. Fleischman pitched again, allowing just one hit and striking out eight in seven innings. Kelly Meggs and Savard both went 3 for 4 for Bellevue

Sammamish’s Malia Lum and Anissa Bryant-Swift won the girls tennis doubles district title yesterday with a three-set win over Grace Porter and Kate Jameson of Bainbridge.

Lum and Bryant-Swift, the defending 3A state doubles champions, won the first set 6-4 but lost the second set. The third frame went back-and-forth before Lum and Bryant-Swift secured the win.

Both doubles teams qualified for the state tournament, held May 27-28 in Vancouver, Wash.

I’m meeting with Lum and Bryant-Swift Tuesday for a feature on the pair for next week’s paper. Check back at the blog for more, as I always post extra tidbits from interviews that don’t make the paper.