The Levelland High School Lobo baseball team hosted their annual summer youth baseball camp for incoming first through ninth graders this past Thursday through Saturday.
The camp focused on the fundamentals of hitting, fielding, throwing and overall baseball development.
Head coach Chris Portwood says Levelland has been hosting this camp for at least 20 years and that other than baseball, they like to focus on building relationships with the kids. The high school kids they have now were able to attend this exact camp when they were younger and built strong relationships during those times.
“They learned to play with each other, trust the guys they’ve been around, players and coaches wise, and also acclimated to the high school coaches so whenever they get here in middle school, they already know who we are,” said Portwood.
A Levelland youth baseball mother, Tiffany Blewett, said her son, Easton Blewett, loves the camp and they sign up every year.
Tiffany says that she enjoys the camp because it brings the Levelland baseball community together.
“I love that it opens our community, even though some of these boys do travel and go to Lubbock every week. They (Levelland High School baseball) are committed to what we are growing here in a small town, and they grow these connections with their classmates and upperclassmen,” said Tiffany.
Tiffany went on to say her son sadly lost his father and having a connection with the baseball coaches and high school players is very important for him to have male figures he can look up to and always speak with.
“He looks up to them; it gives him a sense of peace. He will just come out here and vent to them and I'm happy that he has that,” Tiffany said.
Coach Portwood said how important it is to involve the community for not just the high school team, but the youth levels as well.
“Whenever a kid can grow up in that type of environment and also get to high school and have that environment, it just makes for a safer and better environment for the kid to grow, not just as a baseball player, but a human being,” said Portwood.
As another year of camp wrapped up, Levelland's coaches and players once again demonstrated that the program's impact extends far beyond the diamond, it is helping young athletes develop confidence, friendships and lasting connections that will support them both on and off the field.