Greene County resident and former Major League Baseball player Mike Fischlin partnered with Greene County Recreation to host the second annual “Fisch Camp,” a one-day junior baseball clinic held at the Recreation Complex on May 17.
The first camp, held last August, saw 90 boys of all skill levels enjoy a day of learning the game, participating in drills, and collecting autographs from Major League Baseball players. This year’s camp hosted 110 ballplayers with a lineup of former MLB players joining in to provide unique instruction and mentorship to the campers.
Among the MLB legends who participated were former Atlanta Braves Fischlin, Bruce Benedict, Glenn Hubbard, and J.D. Drew. Drew’s brother, Stephen, a former MLB player for the Diamondbacks, Yankees, Red Sox, Nationals, and A’s, also joined in. Their participation provided young athletes with the opportunity to learn from some of the world's best players.
The weather looked threatening for a while, but the rain never amounted to more than a sprinkle and actually kept things cool during the morning hours of the camp.
The camp was filled with skill-building drills, age-appropriate practice games, and expert instruction. Coaches and players enjoyed a lunch provided by Chick-fil-A, a camp jersey, and a hat.
Fischlin said his wife, Tina, inspired him to start the camp.
“My wife, who does a lot of giving back with cleft lip and palate surgeries for poor children in Southeast Asia and all over the world and does things for the humanity of people, she told me she didn’t know why I didn’t get involved as a former major league player,” Fischlin said.
Not long after that, an employee of the Greene County Recreation Department asked Fischlin, who was sitting in the stands watching a friend’s son play, if he would be interested in creating an event.
“So, I said, ‘Funny you should mention that. My wife just mentioned to me that’s something I should be doing,’” Fischlin said. “So, we got with Pete O’Neal, who runs this complex, and they said they’d love to have me.”
Since Fischlin was not only a former player but also involved with the Scott Boras Corporation, which represents professional athletes, he had connections with former players who might be interested in helping with the event.
“It’s a way to give back, and I’m so happy I did it,” Fischlin said. “We’ve had a great turnout, and we have great people involved. They don’t just sit around; they get out there and teach. It’s only a one-day clinic, so you can’t teach a lot, but it’s good for these kids to have access to these major league players. You can see a smile on their face, and they’re just as happy as can be.”