Marysville High School head baseball coach Mark Brunswick, left, talks to participants during a youth camp that was held earlier this week. Brunswick offered the camp at no charge, saying he wants to get away from the “country club” aspect of youth baseball.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
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Development, development, development.
That is the mantra for Marysville High School head baseball coach Mark Brunswick whenever he conducts a youth camp.
One such event was held earlier this week and attracted 60 area youngsters ages 6-15.
The camp was a little unique in that there was no fee charged to participants. It, like the summer Elite program that Brunswick runs, affords youngsters opportunities to improve their baseball skills without a big hit to the wallet.
“Baseball has become what I call a ‘country club’ sport,” said Brunswick. “If you have money, you have more opportunities to play.”
Brunswick was referring to exclusive travel teams that cost a good deal of money that athletes and their families must pay in order to compete, plus camps that can be rather expensive.
Brunswick said he wanted to put together a program for those families that might not otherwise be able to afford the more costly baseball ventures.
“A lot of people here in town don’t have opportunities to do something like this because they don’t have the money,” he said.
The Elite summer program is run along the same lines as there is no cost to join for Monarch baseball players. The program is currently in its second season.
The Elite 17U squad is currently playing in a tournament in Omaha, Neb.
While there, the Monarchs were scheduled to watch one game of the College World Series.
Brunswick feels the camp and the Elite program hopefully will pay big dividends in the future for Marysville High School baseball.
“It’s always good to have your youth out here and being involved in baseball,” he said. “We’re just trying to bring along their skills. We want them to be set (with those skills) when they get to the high school level.”
The camp focused on various fundamentals of the game with station-to-station exercises and drills.
Brunswick and his high school staff served as instructors. Joining them were former Monarch players such as Corey Gould, Jared Yoakam and Holden Cruea.
“It’s good to see your former players come back and help with the camp,” said Brunswick. “That says you are doing something right within your high school program.