About Extra Bases Camp

Campers:

Boys & Girls ages 4-12.

Staff:

Joseph Praino – “Coach Joe”
Coach Joe has been a student of baseball nearly his entire life. Growing up in Katonah, NY he started playing ball at a young age and immediately became obsessed with the game. Joe attended the Brunswick School in Greenwich, CT and was a two-year varsity starter. While still in high school he began coaching kids ages 6-10 at a local camp and found he enjoyed it almost as much as he did playing. Soon after high school Joe's playing career ended, but his coaching career never did and he has now been coaching for over 15 years. For the last six years Joe has been the co-director of the Hamptons Baseball Camp in Water Mill, NY and he recently completed his third season as a varsity coach for the prestigious Collegiate School in Manhattan with this year's team winning the NYSAISAA Championship. Joe has recently been named the varsity head coach at the Oakwood School in North Hollywood where he will begin coaching in the Spring of 2011. Coach Joe's hobbies include surfing, snowboarding and playing softball.

Maribel Lopez – “Mari”
Mari grew up in Nogales, AZ until she moved to San Diego to attend the University of San Diego. It was at USD that her love of Southern California began. In 2004 she moved to New York City where she has spent the past six years managing various businesses including a spa at Barneys New York,  a restaurant on New York's Lower East Side and a yoga studio in Brooklyn Heights. She is excited to return to Southern California to manage Extra Bases and to call a sunny ballfield her "office". Mari's hobbies include yoga, cooking & traveling...and she hopes with her return to "Cali" that she can add surfing to that list.

Schedule:

Camp is Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Campers are encouraged to show up as early as 8:30 a.m. for extra warmups.

Daily Routine:

• Warmups – Each day campers will warm up with a combination of stretching, running, throwing and controlled infield/outfield play.

• Drills – Following warm ups campers will be broken into groups and learn various baseball techniques through drills. Each day of the week Monday-Friday will focus on a different one of baseballs Five Tools. These Five Tools are: running, fielding, throwing, hitting and hitting for power. It is for this reason that Extra Bases highly recommends enrolling your child for weekly sessions.

• Break – Around 11 a.m. each day camp will take a short break at which time campers may enjoy a light snack, having a catch with fellow campers or just relaxing. The use of bats at break time is prohibited unless approved and supervised by a coach.

• Games – After break time the rest of the day is spent playing a ballgame. It’s at this time that campers will institute the technique they learned earlier into their game. Parents are encouraged to show up early for pick up and enjoy the game as spectators.

Snacks:

Water will be available throughout the day and during “snack break” each camper will have their choice of fresh fruit and/or a granola bar.  In addition campers may bring their own snack and drink, but sugary treats such as candy and soda are discouraged.

Weather Policy:

Rain cancellations will be posted via answering machine (310-491-0333) after 8:15 a.m. and are credit for a future day.