Baseball icon George Whitfield is preparing to host the 52nd Annual Baseball Clinic, a longstanding tradition in North Carolina’s baseball community. Since its inception in 1972, Whitfield’s clinic has become a key event, drawing some of the state’s top coaches and community leaders, all eager to share their expertise with young players striving to improve their skills on the diamond.
This year, the free clinic will take place on January 11 at Wayne Community College, located at 3000 Wayne Memorial Drive. Registration opens at 8 a.m. and runs until 9:30 a.m., with a free lunch provided for attendees.
The clinic will feature a packed schedule of instructional sessions. At 9:40 a.m., Billy Godwin, a Major League Baseball scout with the New York Yankees, will discuss what college coaches and MLB scouts look for in players. From 10:15 a.m. to 10:55 a.m., Howard Whitfield, the administrative director of physical therapy at UNC Health Wayne, will provide insights on common baseball injuries and their prevention.
Sam Guy, head baseball coach at Terry Sanford High School, will take the stage from 10:55 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. to discuss practice organization for high school coaches. Peanut Langston, former head baseball coach at South Central High School, will demonstrate indoor and outdoor drills to enhance player development.
After lunch, the clinic resumes with a focus on pitching. From 12:35 p.m. to 1:50 p.m., Scott Emerson, pitching coach for the Oakland Athletics, and Blake Herring, head baseball coach at Louisburg College, will lead pitching drills.
The afternoon continues with position-specific instruction, starting with catching from 12:35 p.m. to 1:50 p.m., led by Ryan Meadows, assistant baseball coach at Lenoir Community College, and Rob Watt, head coach at the University of Mount Olive. Keith Gorman, head coach at Barton College, and Charlie Long, head coach at William Peace University, will focus on infield play from 2:40 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Outfield drills will follow from 3:30 p.m. to 4:20 p.m., led by Adam Pate, head coach at Eastern Carolina Academy, and Greg Clifton, head coach at N.C. Wesleyan. The final session of the day will cover base running, instructed by Eric Filipek, head coach at T.C. Roberson, and Gary Smith, head coach at Lenoir Community College.
The clinic will conclude with a hitting session from 5:10 p.m. to 6 p.m., featuring Trot Nixon, a former MLB player with the Boston Red Sox, and Dave Jauss, senior advisor for the Washington Nationals.
This year’s clinic promises to be another valuable learning experience for aspiring baseball players, offering them expert insights and hands-on instruction to help them succeed at every level of the game.
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