Gold Sox camp great activity for local boys

Gridley Little League players Raiden Montero and Joshua Campbell were just two of the boys to attend the Gold Sox Baseball Camp for boy ages 7 to 12. The Gold Sox are a professional grade community baseball team full of top quality collegiate players who give their time helping kids become better players. The camp, held Monday through Wednesday this week at the Gold Sox stadium in Marysville, began with instruction only the first day, no games were played. On Tuesday, the day began with instruction and ended with games in the afternoon. On Wednesday, the day of my visit, the boys broke up into groups as they went through eight stations with Gold Sox players as coaches, first defense and then offensive stations. Games were to be played in the afternoon with Slip and Slides used, to not only cool them off on a hot day, but also to teach the sliding technique.

Gold Sox Manager and camp coach Jack Johnson, a teacher and PE coach at Franklin Elementary, said the day (Wednesday) would end with a finale like fireworks, with the boys going home soaking wet.

Johnson has been coaching young boys at the Gold Sox facility for five years, starting with owners Bob and Peter Bavasi, who ran the LA Dodgers and brought Jackie Robinson in. The Bavasi's took over the Gold Sox from the City of Marysville and turned it into a collegiate team. In his third year as Manager of the Gold Sox, Johnson now works for Tom and Karen Linnenger, a great baseball family, according to Johnson.

"I was on the road a lot in my 20's, very self centered lifestyle as a pro baseball player and now have my wife Elizabeth and stepson Alex," Johnson stated. He moved here from Chicago in 2000 and works with Erick Dahl of Gridley, "one of the best teachers I've ever known." Johnson teaches English besides physical education.

He played professional baseball nine-and-a-half years for such teams as the Cubs, Dodgers, White Sox and Angels. It is evident he brings his passion to the field, as he explains the three days of non-stop baseball and the fun the kids have with the Gold Sox players and the relationships developed. When the camp is over, each child will receive a special camp t-shirt that will give them free admission to the Gold Sox games Thursday through Sunday this week. They will also receive certificates and pictures with their coaches.

"This is not a job for me. A summer spent at the ball park is what I love. I wouldn't have it any other way. To see the smiles from ear to ear on the boys faces is just great," Johnson said.

One boy, 11-year-old  Aaron Herrera, is autistic and his grandmother brings him each day as she waits in the stands and watches her grandson excel. Diagnosed at the age of seven, Herrera can read music and plays the piano and violin beautifully, according to his proud grandmother. He can look at a whole page of music and remember what it said and play it. He takes piano lessons and has endured not only the loss of his mother, but also his brother and grandfather.

Coach Johnson stated, "There is something special about Aaron. He hit the ball for the first time yesterday. I am proud of the coaches the way they work hands on with him .The kids are so helpful. They don't care about his disability. They just want him to play. From day one, the other kids recognized his situation and adapted to it."

Hererra's grandmother, Joyce Shields expressed her appreciation for Johnson and the other coaches as they did not have to think twice about teaching Aaron how to play baseball. With these Gold Sox players, there are no disabilities.

This was the first year that Joshua and Raiden attended the camp and their parents say they will definitely come again next year to learn from the pros. The Gold Sox provide free tickets to area schools and Manzanita Elementary School is one of the schools to be a part of this great community relations endeavor.

This was the first year that Joshua and Raiden attended the camp and their parents say they will definitely come again next year to learn from the pros. The Gold Sox provide free tickets to area schools and Manzanita Elementary School is one of the schools to be a part of this great community relations endeavor. Members of the Gold Sox team and coaches will visit Gridley Round Table Pizza on Tuesday, June 30, 2009, from 6 to 8 p.m. for a "Meet and Greet" so that fans can meet the players and get autographs.