By By Rocky Higginbotham/The Meridian Star
Fri., Jan. 26, 2001
When Jay Powell decided to put on a local baseball camp for youngsters seven years ago, he likely had no idea he'd start a tradition that seems to growing larger every year.
Powell teams up with Rush Foundation Hospital for his Seventh Annual Jay Powell Baseball Camp next Saturday, Feb. 3.
The camp will again take place at West Lauderdale High School, and is again sponsored by Rush Foundation Hospital and Rush Sports Medicine.
Powell, a former West Lauderdale standout who later starred at Mississippi State, is currently a relief pitcher for the Houston Astros. He was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles and before winding up in Houston was the winning pitcher in Game 7 of the 1997 World Series for the Florida Marlins.
During the camp, Powell will concentrate on teaching participants the fundamentals of baseball such as hitting, pitching and fielding.
A host of special guests for the camp are expected to be named in the next few days. Past guests have included Jeremy Jackson of the New York Mets organization; Paul Phillips of the Kansas City Royals organization; Jamie Brown of the Cleveland Indians; Gary Rath of the Minnesota Twins; and Brad Henderson of the Oakland Athletics' organization.
Registration for the camp begins at 8:30 a.m. on Feb. 3, and the camp runs from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. The registration fee of $35 includes lunch and a camp T-shirt. All proceeds will benefit The United Way of Lauderdale County in an effort to establish a special needs fund.
Indoor facilities are available in the case of rain, and all athletes are encouraged to bring their tennis shoes for use indoors.
For more information concerning the camp, you can log on to the Rush website at www.rushhospital.org or you may contact Reynolds at (601)-482-9644.
Rocky Higginbotham is the sports editor of The Meridian Star. E-mail him at rhigginbotham@themeridianstar.com.