MEDIA RELEASE

Hilo, Hawai‘i – The 8th Annual Kalae Iki Youth Baseball Clinic is scheduled for July 17-19 at the Simmons’ Field and adjoining youth fields.

Sponsored by the Foundations of Jack Gifford and Betty Kanuha, in cooperation with the County of Hawai‘i Parks & Recreation Department, this 3-day clinic is free of charge and open to boys and girls ages 7-17. Additional assistance is provided by the Kona Hawaii Police Activities League (HIPAL) under the direction of officer Randy Morris.

Several outstanding collegiate coaches have been assembled for this camp. Present will be NCAA Division I head coaches Mark Marques (Stanford), Sam Piraro (San Jose State), Lindsey Meggs (Indiana State), Ritchie Price (Kansas), Mike Gillespie (UC Irvine), David Esquer (California), Mark O’Brien (Santa Clara), David Eldredge (Southern Utah) and Joey Estrella (UH Hilo)along with Tom Kunis (San Jose State), Chad Konishi (UH Manoa), and former UCLA head coach Gary Adams and assistants Glenn Mickins and Jason Green, and Chris Bradford (St. Francis High School, Mt. View, Calif.) as well as former Major League Baseball players Tim Leary, Bill Haselman and Doug DeCinces.

The clinic will feature two sessions the first two days from 8:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. for the 7-11 age group and 1–4 p.m. for the 12-17 age group.

On Sunday, ages 7-11 begins at 8:30 a.m., while the older group begins at 12:30 p.m. The 12-17 group and parents are asked to be part of a special 11 a.m. informational workshop on “Preparing Your Child for College” in the Kekua‘okalani Gym.

Each participant should bring their own baseball equipment including glove, batting helmet, bat, shoes, and appropriate baseball protective supports (as required by all youth leagues for participation) and water bottles.

Registration and applications will be available and handled at the Parks & Recreation offices at the following locations: Kekua‘okalani Gym, Waimea Community Center, Waikoloa Park and the P&R Division Office located at Aunty Sally’s Luau Hale in Hilo.

Applications will also be available in Kona at SWING ZONE, Wally’s Watch Service and Standard Bakery. In Hilo, applications are available at SPORTSLINE.

Completed applications should be submitted at the parks & recreation centers or mailed to the UHH baseball office at 200 W. Kawili St., Hilo, HI 96720-4091. Each session will be limited to the first 250 participants in the specific age groups.

Reservations or information on this clinic is available by calling the UH-Hilo baseball office at 974-7700.

The clinic staff welcomes volunteer help for all drill stations. Call 974-7700 if you are interested.