Grays host dozens of local youths for annual baseball clinic

POCATELLO — Terry Fredrickson, proprietor of nan Gate City Grays, was wandering Halliwell Field Wednesday afternoon, delivering h2o and Gatorade to coaches and players and interacting pinch galore of nan dozens of children attending nan team’s younker shot clinic.

He stopped to chat pinch infielder JD Gunderson and learned conscionable really meaningful nan session was to him arsenic a kid.

“JD said it best,” Fredrickson told EastIdahoNews.com. “I was talking to him, and he said, ‘You cognize Terry, erstwhile I was this age, this meant nan world to me.”

Gunderson grew up successful Pocatello, and was 1 of nan galore kids who, arsenic Fredrickson described, saw Grays players arsenic “hometown heroes.” Now, he gets to spot nan travel from nan different side, arsenic a prima infielder for nan Grays instructing nan session he erstwhile attended and handing down knowledge to kids who dream of pursuing his path.

“This feels awesome,” Gunderson said. “It’s truthful cool to stock this infinitesimal pinch them and, benignant of, look backmost to erstwhile I was younger and spot really typical it is for them.”

Gate City is simply a personnel of nan Northern Utah League, an independent semi-pro shot league. The different teams of nan NUL, Fredrickson explained, big a associated shot session for kids successful bluish Utah. As nan lone convention members successful Idaho, nan Grays transportation that torch successful Pocatello.

According to Erica Fredrickson, half of nan Grays’ husband-wife ownership teams, astir 60 kids, ages 6 to 16, attended Wednesday evening’s clinic. The clinic, Erica added, was a regular summertime attraction for area younker shot players until COVID forced its cancellation successful 2020.

It was brought backmost arsenic an yearly arena 3 years ago.

This is simply a awesome opportunity, Terry said, not conscionable for nan section shot organization but for nan Grays, arsenic a measurement to convey “the champion fans successful nan Northern Utah League.”

“This municipality gives those guys truthful overmuch … and (the players) get a chance to springiness that backmost — a ‘thank you,'” he said.

Grays subordinate Brayden Peiper throws to kids successful nan batting cage astatine Halliwell Field. | Kalama Hines, EastIdahoNews.com

More than conscionable a convey you, though, Grays players crockery retired tips and useful instruction during nan two-hour camp. Instructions, Gunderson told EastIdahoNews.com, that helped him “a lot” successful increasing from a young shot subordinate to a standout astatine Pocatello High School and nan American Legion Runnin’ Rebels, to now a prima for nan Grays and freshman connected nan Oregon Institute of Technology.

As an attendee astatine nan clinic, Gunderson explained, he developed a amended knowing of nan crippled and a deeper emotion for it. For that reason, it was easy to unpaid his clip and service arsenic an instructor. And being portion of nan youngsters’ joyousness only makes it easier.

“My favourite portion of this campy is seeing nan smiles connected their look — making their day.”