Former MLB All-Star Casey's Champions Camp Kicks Off

UPPER ST. CLAIR, PA - Former Major League Baseball All-Star and township native Sean Casey on Tuesday kicked off his sixth annual Champions Camp elite baseball camp to benefit the Miracle League of the South Hills. The camp for players ages 8-18 runs through June 22 at Mayview Park.

Featuring an all-star lineup of top professional and college coaches, proceeds from the camp go to benefit the Miracle League’s custom-designed field and playground that allows more than 300 special needs players who might have been kept from playing baseball to take the field

Last year’s camp raised more than $19,000.

“It’s the best of both worlds.” said Casey, an MLB analyst and Miracle League founder. “We’re giving local kids the chance to be instructed by some of the best coaches in baseball and we’re also giving hundreds of people with special needs to chance to play the game we love.”

This year’s coaches include:

• Casey, a three-time All-Star, .300 career hitter, Cincinnati Reds Hall of Famer, MLB Network analyst, founder of Casey's Clubhouse/Miracle League of the South Hills.

• Jim Thome, a five-time MLB All-Star who launched 612 career home runs.

• Dave Collins, who played and coached with MLB All-Stars Ken Griffey Jr., Giancarlo Stanton, Pete Rose, Kirk Gibson, and others.

• Jason LaRue, who had a 12-year career with the Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis. Cardinals, and Kansas City Royals.

• Jim Chester, head baseball coach at Lock Haven University.

• Brian Harrison: Baldwin Wallace University head baseball coach, known across the country for innovative hitting techniques on increasing bat speed.

• Garrett Beard, who played seven seasons with the Dodgers and A’s and is the current Upper St. Clair baseball coach.

• Justin Lamber: A member of eight championship teams in 10 minor league baseball seasons.

• Kris Wilson, a pitcher for the New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals.

• Mike Wilson, who spent 17 years as head baseball coach at Duquesne University.

• Ed McCloskey, the former Mt. Lebanon High School coach who coached Casey and Pittsburgh native and Chicago Cubs star Ian Happ.

• John Dennis, a strength and conditioning coach and World's Strongest Man competitor.

• Kevin Gryboski, a former Atlanta Braves pitcher.

• Tim Gebhart, the executive director of Casey's Clubhouse. Gebhart worked for 8 years with Cal and Bill Ripken Camp as director of baseball camps across the United State, Japan, China, and Nicaragua.

Photo by captain-tucker via Creative Commons.