Lagers to Open Development Camp at The Friendly Confines

Lagers to Open Development Camp at The Friendly Confines in “Little Dominica” – program will emulate Latin American academy

By George McNeily / lowballwiffle.org

LITTLE DOMINICA, LINCOLN VERMONT -- While the Lagers season got under way Friday Night at the renovated Friendly Confines in the “Little Dominica”, team officials were working on plans to establish a permanent academy there for the first time.
While no official announcement has been made, multiple members of the leagues front office have been discussing the opening of a development facility for aspiring LOWBALLer’s, part of an ongoing effort to get the most out of the leagues efforts spent on scouting and developing young Wiffle players.
"We noticed a couple of years ago that there was an incredible pool of talent around here and these kids weren't being taught the fundamentals and joy of Wiffle" LOWBALL Commissioner Tommie "Trot" Thompson III said. "For whatever reason, maybe it’s the water or mountain air, there is just an abundance of young, quality bats and arms around here and we are going to foster that gift.”
By all reports the development academy could be up and running as soon as this July.
"I can’t tell you when, we need to advise with the WOW’s, but I can tell you it's going to happen, it will obviously require an investment of a sizeable nature. Thompson estimates that the academy would require an investment of $100-120 per year. That includes lease payments, staffing and player expenses.
"The thinking is that we take a different approach to developing world-class Wiffle players," said LOWBALL Director of Player Development Michael "El Guapo" Moriarty, who was hired by Thompson in November and will oversee the development camp. "Instead of spending a lot of money on a lot of players, we would spend the same amount on fewer and elite-quality players from the community."
Plans under way
El Guapo, a Dominican native and product of a Dominican camp himself, already leases facilities from a flock of sheep and owns adjacent land on which he is building a second complex that would include fields, batting cages, offices and dormitory-style housing for players and staff.
Establishing a permanent camp in Lincoln would allow the league to work with young talent throughout the summer months and over the long haul more cautiously introduce the elite players to LOWBALL as they mature. Those players certainly would still face long odds, like any other Minor Leaguer, but at least they would begin facing those challenges under the tutelage of veteran LOWBALLer’s .
"This program is going to benefit hitters and fielders, mainly. We'll get them stretched out, get the arm and leg strength going, teach them the fundamentals of LOWBALL - but most importantly we want to show them how much fun this sport is to play”.
Will this approach work?
"I think our experiment will be a good one, it has merit," El Guapo said. "There is clearly a lot of God given talent around here and we can't afford to wait six or seven years for these kids to develop, or worse drift into other sports. If we can let them have a couple of years down here, and bring them up through the ranks, Lincoln could become the Wiffle capital of the world - and that's our goal."
Only time will tell.