Cody Thompson has had a lot of fun working on his baseball skills this winter.
“Lots of hitting, lots of skills (work),” he said. “We have covered everything.”
Thompson is among approximately 100 South Okanagan Minor Baseball Association (SOMBA) Tigers in five divisions that signed up for the winterball program that started in January for 10 weeks at the Penticton Community Centre. Thompson, a peewee-level player, who plays shortstop, catcher and pitcher, loves to hit and play infield. Over sessions, Thompson said he has improved his hitting.
“I’m looking forward to a new season,” said Thompson.
Once it gets going in April, the opposition will have to keep a close eye on him.
“I love to base run,” said Thompson. “It’s one of my best skills.”
Jack MacIntosh is another Tiger who has enjoyed working on his skills.
“It’s been really good,” he said. “I always get excited for the new baseball season.”
MacIntosh loves winterball because he knows it helps players get warmed up for a new season.
“It’s really awesome to be out here and playing baseball,” he said. “It’s awesome that they put this program on.”
James Raymond, president of SOMBA and coach of the peewee AA team, said they have seen steady growth of players signing up for the program year after year. He admitted being indoors they are restricted with what they can do, but place a focus at the start of sessions on ball handling, footwork, swing mechanics, tee work and live cage work.
“Stuff that we can do that just brings them back into the baseball season,” said Raymond. Raymond and the other coaches work to get the players back to being natural with the baseball in the glove.
“Same with the swing. If you don’t swing the bat for four or five months, some of your old habits come back,” he said. “Usually by mid-session all those habits start to slip away and the mechanics come back.” Working on their game also gives the players the itch to get back on the field, which Raymond said is great to see.
“They are ready to go out on the ball field and get going,” he said. “It’s a really neat dynamic. It keeps them fresh.”