Camp Pawlowski

Though baseball season won't get started until February, Plainsman Park is far from dormant.

Auburn's ongoing baseball camp is an opportunity for young, aspiring high school players to showcase their skills to scouts and coaches.

The camp, open to all, attracts players from all over the Southeast and states as far away as Texas.

Third-year head coach John Pawlowski said Auburn is dear to some of these players, many of whom saw Saturday's football game and stayed for the long weekend to find experience at the next level of play.

"(The players) seek opportunities to showcase their abilities, so they actually seek out us," Pawlowski said. "We're trying to find athletes. Camps are a very good way for us to see these kids. We look out for different things, and some guys really stand out."

Pawlowski is a living testament to the success of these types of camps, as he attended one hosted by Clemson University during his sophomore year in high school and, in turn, was recruited.

"You never really know who's watching, so you go out there and play with passion," Pawlowski said. "There's a work ethic and passion that goes with it. You can outwork the person to your left and right, and next thing you know, you find yourself on the team."

The camp, which ran Sunday and Monday, consists of a series of different drills, but mostly centers around players catching pop flies, fielding ground balls and making quick throws to the other bases to make would-be plays.

The second half is a mock game, where the players truly show what they're worth in actual competition.

Parents and siblings packed the stands and sought shade in the blistering summer heat, rooting for their kids and enjoying the concessions.

Last season, Pawlowski guided the Tigers to an SEC West championship and said he admires their productive season, but still remains unsatisfied with the results.

He said the Tigers' immediate goals are to win the SEC tournament and make the playoffs.

"We have 17 new faces on this team," he said, leaning back in his chair under a picture of Bo Jackson hitting a home run. "We want to keep the excitement and energy and enthusiasm surrounding the program right now."

An SEC Championship, if achieved, would be the 10th in school history and the first in more than 10 years.

Before last season, the last time the Tigers made post-season play in consecutive seasons was from 1997-2003.

During this time, they made seven straight play-off trips that included a conference title and a College World Series appearance.

"Auburn is a very special place," Pawlowski said. "There's a great history of tradition here, not just athletically, but academically as well. This is a place where student-athletes prepare for life."