LLCC baseball camp, alumni teach children different aspects of the sport

By Ryan Wilson, editor

SPRINGFIELD — Lincoln Land Community College’s campus was closed and locked Dec. 29, 30 and 31. Except for Cass Gymnasium, where at least 100 children were learning how to play baseball.

Lincoln Land hosted its 13th annual winter baseball camp with 100 to 110 kids signed up to learn the fundamentals of baseball, including batting, throwing, base running and defense.

“We think it’s a great opportunity for the kids who really don’t have a whole lot to do during Christmas break,” said Ron Riggle, LLCC’s athletic director and the head coach of the school’s baseball team. “A lot of them play competitive baseball, and their team is going to be practicing pretty soon. So we think it’s a great opportunity to get in and kind of get the baseball season started.”

This year’s winter baseball camp was led by Colton White, Eric Weaver, Riggle, Ryan Aper and Justin Knoedler.

White, a 2013 graduate of LLCC and Knoedler, a 2000 graduate of Lincoln Land, are assistant coaches on the Logger’s men’s baseball team. Aper, a 2013 graduate of LLCC, currently plays for the Batavia Muckdogs, a short-season single-A team in the Miami Marlins organization.

“It’s a good time of the year, because the kids are all excited from Christmas gifts and things like that,” Knoedler said. “They come in with a new bat and a new glove, and we get to play baseball when its 20 degrees outside.”

The camp was split into two session. One portion lasted from 9 to 11:30 a.m. with 65 kids 8 to 11 years old, Riggle said.

He said 35 to 40 people signed up for the 12 to 2 p.m. session. It included people ages 11 and older.

It cost $120 per person to attend the event. The price increased to $140 for those who registered after Dec. 19.

Knoedler said he enjoys teaching catching and hitting.

“I love getting the kids excited about the game,” Knoedler said. “There’s so much out there for these kids to do now. A lot of them play video games — something that I wasn’t into when I was a kid. For the kids to get involved in a sport like this and stay active is really important to me.”

Knoedler, who was a catcher in the MLB for six years, said less than 2 percent of all college baseball players will play professionally. He played for the Oakland A’s, St. Louis Cardinals, the Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers and the then-Florida Marlins organizations.

“You have to put forth the work and hard effort,” he said, when asked about how to become a professional baseball player. “And if you want something, you got to go for it. That’s what I tell these kids. They say they want to play in the MLB. I was like, ‘Well, give it all you got.’”

Weaver, who pitched in the majors for three years, said he believes his 6-foot 5-inch, 230-pound stature at Illiopolis High School helped jumpstart his professional baseball career. He graduated from Illiopolis in 1991.

“If we can help one or two of these kids, maybe get to college or eventually pro ball, then that would be a cool thing,” said Weaver, who pitched for Anaheim Angels, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the then-Florida Marlins.

Ryan Wilson can be reached at [email protected] or 217-786-2311.

Gallery • 2 Photos

Justin Knoedler tells two children about a base-running drill at LLCC's 13th annual winter baseball camp. It was Dec. 29 to 31.