Arkansas Razorback pitcher Austin Ledbetter, left, in red, stands with a group of kids at Majestic Park pitching camp. Razorback pitcher Will McEntire, far right, also put on the camp as part of a name, image and likeness deal. (Submitted photo)
BRYAN RICE
The Sentinel-Record
Majestic Park held a successful pitch camp for youth baseball players Sunday.
Arkansas Razorbacks' Will McEntire and Austin Ledbetter appeared as a part of a name, image and likeness deal, Majestic Park General Manager Derek Phillips said.
"We reached out to a handful of young men and these are the two that said they were available," Phillips said. "Getting them to coordinate their schedules was difficult for Division I athletes; it is hard. These two were available."
Phillips said the Razorbacks enjoyed their time at Majestic Park.
"Oh man, they loved it," Phillips said. "I believe both of them, when they were quite a bit younger, played here in the old park as part of All-Star teams. I believe it was the first time both of them had seen it. They were blown away. Now, of course, they play at Baum Stadium, but they were like, man this is really cool for a city to have a park like this for the local community to use."
Phillips said there were 90 youth pitchers who participated.
"A lot of good feedback," Phillips said. "I think they really felt good about it, the two Razorbacks that were here did such a good job. It was a beautiful day, the weather was perfect, especially in the first session. It was just a really good camp. You never know what you are going to get when you do a camp, especially out of season like that. It was really cool to have those two young men here and it go so well. Everybody seemed to enjoy it."
Phillips said he has had requests for more camps.
"I have heard people say, 'I wish we had more opportunities like this,'" he said.
Phillips spoke about future plans for the camp, noting he would like to get "whoever we can find."
"There are some local kids at universities around the country and Arkansas that might be able to come home and do it. Last year we tried to get some Razorbacks to do it in January. I have reached out to some young men that have said they would be interested," he said.
Majestic Park plans to use its scholarship program to help aid in the camps' attendance. Phillips said they have also spoken with National Park College about doing camps.
"We have already got another camp set with the (Arkansas) Travelers for next year," he said. "They did their camp here last year on Memorial Day morning. It went really well. We are looking to offer more instruction when we can."
The fastest pitch was clocked in at 67 mph, he said.
"They were 8-18," he said of the age groups. "We did not have many of the older kids. (Sixty-seven) is pretty good on a cool afternoon."
Phillips said the campers were slinging the ball around and that all of them had a great time.
"They were throwing hard and getting their fastball and they really enjoyed it. They got some autographs and pictures. They got some pitching instruction," he said.
Participants also received a speed card on their pitching.
"The card measured their fastball speed. They got three shots at it and then the Razorbacks autographed that card. The kids seemed to love that. They all took something away from it. I think it just showed us the need to do more instruction as much as we can here. It is hard because we play so much," he said.
Phillips said he had never hosted a camp exclusively for pitching, but said it was interesting doing it.
"I have never done pitching only as a camp. It was interesting how it went. Those two young men, they did a good job with it too. It was a really, really neat day," he said.