Baseball: Amaral to host inaugural baseball camp

Richard Dunn

HUNTINGTON BEACH - Longtime major leaguer Rich Amaral, a former

Estancia High and Orange Coast College standout, will host his inaugural

baseball camp Dec. 27-29.

Amaral, who has played 8 1/2 years in the big leagues with the Seattle

Mariners and Baltimore Orioles, will donate the proceeds of the camp to

Ocean View Little League and Costa Mesa High School.

Costa Mesa baseball coach Kirk Bauermeister is one of the instructors

at the three-day Rich Amaral Baseball Camp, held at the Ocean View Little

League field. The camp is open to boys and girls between 6 and 12.

Amaral, a free agent who concluded the 2000 season in the Atlanta

organization, broke into the majors as a second baseman, and, at age 31,

was the oldest rookie in the major leagues in 1993.

Amaral, who became a valuable member of Manager Lou Piniella’s

Mariners as a utility player in the 1990s, has played every position on

the diamond in the big leagues except at the battery. Each year he was

among Seattle’s top base stealers.

Amaral, who hopes to continue his playing career in 2001, will be

joined at the camp by former major leaguers Damon Berryhill, Steve

Springer, Jeff Gardner and Gary Buckles, as well as former minor league

players Joey Aversa, Craig Daedelow, Darrin Nelson, Howie Clark and Gary

Springer.

Bauermeister will also bring along several Costa Mesa varsity players

to help out during the camp, which also satisfies a community service

requirement for the Mustang players.

“I’m excited about the camp,” Amaral said. “It’s been a fun

experience.”

Parents and coaches are welcome to follow their sons and daughters

through each station on the field. Video cameras, tape recorders and note

pads are welcome. A short question and answer period will follow each

daily session.

Campers will learn the fundamentals of baseball, along with

advancement skills necessary to become a more complete player.

The cost is $99 per player. Each camp is from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Enrollment includes: Professional instruction, camp T-shirt, radar gun

timing and daily raffle for autographed items. Pro model Rich Amaral

Baseball Camp hats will also be available. Enrollment is limited.

Details: (714) 848-1852.