Frank Thomas Will Be At Baseball Clinic For Tinley Park Teens

TINLEY PARK, IL — Major League Baseball hall-of-famer and Chicago White Sox legend Frank Thomas will be a guest at a baseball camp in Tinley Park next month. The Big Hurt will join John Cangelosi of Cangelosi Baseball and other experts at a one-day baseball clinic set for Aug. 8, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at McCarthy Park on 80th Avenue.

Thomas played in the MLB for 19 seasons, including 16 with the White Sox and was a member of their 2005 World Series championship squad. He won the American League Most Valuable Player award in 1993 and 1994.

Cangelosi is also a former pro baseball player who played for a number of major league teams, including the White Sox from 1985-1986, and won a World Series with the Florida Marlins in 1997. He now leads a baseball program in Lockport.

Registration for the camp at McCarthy Park is only open to Tinley Park residents ages 15, 16 and 17 and will be held on-site, the day of the camp, at 8 a.m., Tinley Park Trustee Michael Glotz, one of the hosts of the camp, said. The camp will be capped at 75 participants and will start right at 9 a.m.

Andrew High School baseball coaches Dave DeHaan and Bob Gillund will join Tinley Park High School baseball coach John O'Shea at the camp as well. It will be cover both hitting and pitching.

Driver's licenses and school identification cards must be presented while checking in, and participants must list whether they are a pitcher of just there for the hitting portion. Participants also need to bring their own baseball bats. Campers will get a free t-shirt and served lunch from Lucky Dog.

Glotz, who is hosting the camp with other local elected officials including Tinley Park Clerk Kristin Thirion, Orland Township Supervisor Paul O'Grady and other Tinley trustees Bill Brennan, Michael Mueller and Bill Brady, said instead of charging for participation donations will be sought to help Kiera Fitzmaurice and the lemonade stand the girl organizes to help local charities.

Fitzmaurice and her friends will donate 100 percent of the proceeds from the stand this summer to Tinley Wish, Glotz said.

Tinley Wish is one of Glotz' favorite charities, he said, adding that it "makes this even that more rewarding to do this."

"What they have done over the years is nothing short of amazing," Glotz said. "They are fundraising gurus for their charities.

"Every year we support Kiera and Tinley Wish. This year they just happened to be working together. We want to make this year really special for the Tinley Park families in need by helping Kiera and her friends."

The lemonade stand will be at the baseball camp, with a minimum donation of $25 per person requested.