TCMM Kids Camp aims to develop skills and to enjoy baseball

By Lethbridge Herald on May 31, 2023.

Herald Photo by Justin Seward Enchant Red Sox's Rory Odland is about to catch a fly ball as Lethbridge Bulls' Carter Claerhout looks on during the TCMM Memorial Kids Camp and Game on Wednesday at Spitz Stadium.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

There was plenty of baseball skill training on display during the annual TCMM (Tanner Craswell Mitch Maclean) Memorial Kids Camp and Game  at Spitz Stadium on Wednesday.

The Lethbridge Bulls, Prairie Baseball Academy and Vauxhall Academy  of Baseball hosted kids from all over southern Alberta and taught them about the game that both Craswell and Maclean had a passion for before they tragically passed away in December 2011 from a murder-suicide.

Stations were set up to learn about generals skills in the outfield, pitching and hitting.

“They were baseball nuts and I’m sure to see this many kids out here, they’d love it,” said Chance Wheatley, Bulls head coach.

Wheatley thought it was really important for all these kids to talk with the Bulls players and play some catch.

“And kind of inspire some young kids and put some smiles on some faces,” said Wheatley.

Wheatley hopefully wanted to see the players improve and having a great time.

Vauxhall head coach Les McTavish said it helps the older kids as much it does the younger kids.

“Just (with) learning to manage people, and you know try to be a leader within the community and hopefully a lot of the young kids here have Bulls players or Jets players that they’re going to look up to for future years,” said McTavish.

McTavish knew Maclean pretty well and Craswell when he played in Vauxhall.

“They were both big kids at heart,” he said.

“They would’ve been right in there with stuff like this and they would’ve been taking the youngest kids in the camp (and) making them smile (and) laugh. They probably would’ve enjoyed it as much the kids. So it’s a great way to remember both boys.”

PBA and Bulls assistant coach Ryan MacDonald said with the two boys, this is something that they did throughout their playing days, is  kids camps.

“Yeah it’s just a tribute to them,” said MacDonald.

“Yeah, I mean the earlier the better,” said MacDonald, on development in camps.

“For the first year ever there’s a women’s team out here. It’s good to see that  the baseball in the community and softball in the community is growing. So you know I think there’s 50 or 60 kids out here. So it’s good to see that they’ll show up to an event like this.”

Craswell and Maclean were teammates with both PBA and the Bulls,  while Craswell also suited up for Vauxhall.