Remember to bring your camera to each game to take action photos
Forward these pics. to cubspics@westsidecubs.net
New Images Available under Image area
2008 Game Schedule Now Available
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Remember to bring your camera to each game to take action photos Forward these pics. to cubspics@westsidecubs.net New Images Available under Image area 2008 Game Schedule Now Available
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Clay Phillips
Clay is simply the best 9 year old first year catcher I have ever seen. In youth baseball, the catcher is the most important position on the field. In youth ball, more runs are scored on passed balls (by the catcher) than any other way. This was a new position for Clay this year and his parents have The catching position can "make or break" a team at this age. Clay is "making" our team this year. He has one of the strongest arms on our team and as he learns more control, opposing players will have a very difficult time stealing bases on him. Only the fastest players need try (to steal), once his throwing accuracy catches up with his catching skills.
As a batter, Clay simply pulverizes the ball. After Clay catches a pitch squarely, we always request that the ball be replaced, because Clay has the knocked all of the "bounce" out of the ball. In a recent game, Clay lined the ball down the third base line and the ball rolled all the way to the fence (about 280 ft). If he had not missed second base and went back to tag the base, he would have easily scored, rather than getting a triple. As one of our tallest players, Clay probably has more long-term potential than any other player on our team. In our game against the Varnell Rockhounds, the Rockhounds kept testing Clay's arm by stealing second base. Normally, an opposing team advances on passed balls, but since Clay was blocking every ball with his body and keeping the ball in front of him (as a good catcher should), they became desperate to advance runners. The Rockhounds started sending runners on straight steals. At this age, no catcher should be able to get the ball down to 2nd base, much less with accuracy. Clay nailed two runners, attempting to steal, in the third inning. The plays were not even close. Clay's catching prowess is a primary reason the Cubs are playing so well.
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Westside Youth Athletic Association Website Helton Genealogical DNA Project - Hilton Family Tree - http://hiltonfamilytree.com
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worked very hard to teach him good fundamentals. Clay is beginning to use
his body to block more balls and prevent balls from reaching the backstop.
Since very few pitchers (in 9 year old ball) throw catchable balls, catching a 9
year old pitcher is actually more difficult than catching a professional
knuckleball pitcher like Phil Niekro.
His strong arm also will make him one of our most dominating
pitchers, as he learns control. As an "old" coach, I hate to play catch
with him because he burns my hand with every throw.
