The Redlands Baseball Academy has been under way for four weeks and the benefits are already taking effect with Rays junior teams giving solid performances in their weekly Greater Brisbane League games.
The academy is open to all junior players from Little League to Senior League, ages 12 to 16 years.
The eight-week long academy, conducted each year during the pre-Christmas half of the season, focuses on pitching, catching, batting (both field and batting cages), base running and infield skills with coaches working on at least three disciplines each week.
These are governed by the availability of the specialist coaches.
Club coach Dudley Johnson is working with local baseballer Connor Macdonald to set the schedule for each session.
Macdonald is drawing on the wealth of knowledge he has gained from his experience of playing for Redlands, the Brisbane Bandits, The Houston Astros (Texas) and currently the Sydney Blue Sox.
The academy has a minimum of eight coaches at each week’s session including Rays senior coaches, current US import, Brandon Woodland, and Brisbane Bandits member, Jake Turcato, with help from Rays U20’s players Kailen Hamson and Liam Macdonald.
Rays junior teams are producing great baseball with Little League and Junior League Rams each winning their first three games and the Senior League Rams winning two from three.
For more information on the Redlands Baseball Academy you can email enquiries@redlandsrays.com.au or to keep up on all current events visit them online at redlandsrays.com.au/home/ or on Facebook at facebook.com/RedlandsRays/