Although the 2011 Auburn baseball season is over, the staff is still busy at work.
Baseball beginners and college prospects are headed to Plainsman Park this summer for camp, and they are in similar shoes as current Tigers once were.
"I would say probably half our team has been through camp here at some point along the way," said volunteer assistant coach Ty Megahee.
Auburn baseball has four camps throughout the summer that focuses on further developing baseball players. Thirteen-year-olds to high school graduates may participate in the exposure camp, and high school players have the option of attending the elite camp or team camp. All camps are on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Megahee and Scott Duval, director of baseball operations, are the two main forces behind Auburn's summer baseball camps. Head coach John Pawlowski is always in attendance, along with current players and guest coaches.
"When we have camps going on, I want to give the utmost attention to our campers and give them a great experience," Pawlowski said.
The exposure camp does exactly what its name says.
"Camp is a place that you're guaranteed to be seen by the coaches, and you're coming to our facility and the coaches are working with you," Duval said. "That's a good opportunity for a lot of players that want to play at the next level."
That was the case with Auburn senior Dan Gamache.
"I think Dan came to a winter camp down from Rhode Island," Duval said. "That's when the coaches saw him for the first time. Now he's a sixth-round draft pick."
During this July 24-27 camp, all aspects of the game will be covered, including offense, defense and pitching.
However, the players aren't the only ones being exposed, Pawlowski said.
"Camps provide a great opportunity for prospective student athletes to have an opportunity to be involved on campus here at Auburn, to get an opportunity to have a feel of what Auburn is like, what the campus is like," Pawlowski said.
If players want to register they must do it quickly.
The elite camp is the only camp that takes a certain number of players before filling up.
"In doing that allows a little more one-on-one instruction," Megahee said. "We're able to do a lot more stuff because of the small number,"
Those interested have to be quick in registering considering each year it fills up quicker.
Typically the 44 spots are filled by mid-June or early July. According to Duval, this year the camp was sold out June 2. The camp doesn't start until July 17. Currently, there is a waiting list for campers who were not able to get one of the 44 spots.
Players take batting practice, field from their positions and get timed for their 60-yard dash, while coaches try to watch for possible prospects.
One night during camp, Auburn coaches and attending teams and coaches all meet in the same spot to discuss what makes Auburn baseball Auburn baseball, Duval said.
"We'll give them the ideas that we have here at Auburn, our philosophies on pitching or defense or hitting," Duval said. "It's a way for us to work with those coaches and players also and give them the philosophy of the way we do things at Auburn."
Auburn continues to improve its camps to make it the best possible for campers, whether they are learning the game or attempting to succeed at the college level.
"I love seeing a guy leave knowing he had a good time and that he got better somehow," Duval said.
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