Newport Gulls Teach Local Youth How to Play Ball

The boys and girls of summer are back!

But besides playing baseball, they are busy teaching Aquidneck Island youth the game they love so much.

The Newport Gulls recently held the first of five Youth Baseball Camps for players from all over Aqudineck Island at the Portsmouth Little League Field on East Main Road.

The camps are open to both boys and girls, ages 6-12 years of age. Each camp session is four days per week and costs $85.  

The Gull’s Youth Baseball Camp started on July 5 at the Middletown Little League field on Aquidneck Avenue, but there are still more opportunities to play!

The camps will be held on July 11, 18 and 25 at 9 a.m.

The venues are the Newport Little League Field Wellington Avenue (adjacent to Kings Park), Portsmouth Little League Field and Middletown Little League Field respectively.

Approximately 80 kids came out to the first camp with 20 members of the Gulls hitting the bases with them.

For Washington state senior and Gulls center fielder Kyle Johnson, it all takes him back to his Little League days.

“I played for the Gulls last summer and had an opportunity to come back this year, so I did. I love helping the kids here at camp. You can see yourself in them when you were their age, learning the game, getting better each day and having fun,” said Johnson.

But it doesn’t stop there, said the native of Lake City, Idaho, and an economics major.

“Later in the day, when we have a home game at Cardines Field; it’s a lot of fun seeing the same ones calling your name to get a hit,” he said.

Gulls right fielder Robert Ort, who hails from Newburgh, IN, and is a junior studying sports management at Washington State University, echoed his teammate’s thoughts.

“This is my first year as a Gull and my first time on the East Coast. I thought it was an excellent opportunity so I took it. Working with the kids at the camp is a great experience, also. I feel like we are role models to them and they look up at us. There’s a lot of joy when we are at the game and they yell at us to do well. It really makes you feel good,” he said.

One of those kids is Dylan Brandariz, 6.

“I like going to the Gulls games and seeing my coaches from camp. I guess the best thing at camp I like is getting baseball cards,” he said.

His friend Davis Lee, a Yankees and Mets fan, had other thoughts.

“I love the batting cages and hitting,” the 7-year-old said.

College intern Lucy Needham is working for the Gulls this summer. Needham is studying sports management at Southern Methodist University.

She said the team is well known and well respected for what they do.

“The Gulls are a highly respected team throughout the country and are known as a very community based organization. The camps are great because at a grass roots level the kids can learn the fundamentals from future professional baseball players. It’s a win win for all,” said Needham.

The Gull’s organization is in its 11th season and is a member team in the New England Collegiate Baseball League.

The team plays from June until the end of July, with the NECBL Playoffs happening the first two weeks of August.

Tickets for home games are; Adults $4; children, 13-18 $2; children under 12, $1; seniors and Military ID, $2. Parking is located at the Gateway Center and is only $3 with game day ticket.

More information about the Gulls Baseball Camps can be found at http://www.newportgulls.com/camps.html or by calling (401) 849-4282.

Information about finacial assistance to attend a camp can be gathered by contacting the Gulls directly.