Tinley Park Teens Get Instruction From Frank Thomas, Local Baseball Coaches At Free Clinic

From the Richard Free Press:

By Jon DePaolis

TINLEY PARK, Ill. – Tinley Park teenagers had a once-in-a-lifetime experience Saturday, Aug. 8, as they received instruction from top-notch baseball players and coaches, including Hall of Famer Frank Thomas.

The free baseball clinic – organized by Village of Tinley Park trustees Michael Glotz, Bill Brennan, Michael Mueller and William Brady, as well as Village Clerk Kristin Thirion and Orland Township Supervisor Paul O’Grady – was held at McCarthy Park, 16801 S. 80th Ave. in Tinley Park. While the event was free, the organizers asked those who participated to make a donation to Kiera and Friends Annual Lemonade Stand for Charity.

Glotz said that while the event did not hit capacity because some Tinley Park children are still playing in their travel baseball leagues, it allowed the organizers to open it up to more people.

“Originally, it was ages 15 to 17, but we lowered it to 13 to 17 to give more of the younger kids a chance to hit in front of Frank Thomas and John Cangelosi,” Glotz said.

In attendance to help guide the young baseball players were Thomas, former Major League Baseball player John Cangelosi, Andrew High School baseball coach Dave DeHahn, Tinley Park High School baseball coach Josh O’Shea and former Andrew pitching coach Bob Gillund.

To start off the morning, Thomas addressed the young players by telling them, “You are the future.”

He also dispensed some of his hitting wisdom – specifically, for the ballplayers to learn how to hit a line drive.

“A line drive carries in every league,” Thomas said.

Cangelosi followed by telling the teenagers to “learn your trade,” and to work hard at the aspects of the game at which they excel.

“Practice what you are going to do between the white lines,” Cangelosi advised.

He also told the players to have confidence.

“Believe in your own ability,” Cangelosi said. “It starts with you.”

Overall, the instructors’ message was to enjoy the day.

“Let’s have some fun, because baseball is fun!” Thomas said.

During the clinic, the teenagers had the opportunity to hit in a batting cage with Thomas and Cangelosi observing. Both of the instructors took time to analyze the young ballplayers’ swings and give advice for tweaks and adjustments.

“It’s amazing,” Glotz said. “I never had this opportunity as a kid, and I played baseball my whole life. In order to have someone like Frank Thomas – a local hero – and John Cangelosi here is just incredible.”

But while the baseball clinic was the draw for the event, it also was not lost on the organizers the underlying reason they were there – to raise money for Kiera and Friends Annual Lemonade Stand for Charity. The charitable efforts are to benefit Tinley Wish this year.

“This means the world to me,” Glotz said. “Ever since I’ve gotten into office, it has all been about helping the residents and making it a better place. The reasons I did this were that I thought the kids’ baseball seasons would either be shortened or edited, so I wanted to help our young children; and Tinley Wish has also been very important to me, because one of the cofounders, Dennis Mahoney, is one of my good friends. He was on there for over 20 years. To help keep that tradition going is a great feeling.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: For more photos of the event, check out Richard Free Press’ Facebook page.

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