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Sports

Tuesday, Oct. 06, 2009

Modesto baseball program gets assist from pros

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The stars are aligning, literally and figuratively, for Modesto's Eastlake Baseball Academy.

Eastlake, which provides individual instruction and team competition for youth ballplayers, has grown at a steady pace since opening its doors for business in early May.

Daily traffic is heavy, with no shortage of youngsters occupying the 10,000 square-foot facility's four batting cages (good luck finding an empty one) and toeing the rubber on the two clay pitching mounds located behind them.

Instructors spend hours upon hours helping youth ballplayers develop and refine their skills.

What makes the experience all the more special for kids is that the instruction often comes from somebody whose baseball card they have at home.

Stroll into the facility on any given day and you're bound to bump into Colorado Rockies outfield prospect Anthony Jackson and San Diego Padres farmhand Kyle Loretelli, also an outfielder, giving pointers on batting. Same with Adam Heether, a product of Ripon High and Modesto JC, who recently concluded a solid campaign as a third baseman with the Nashville Sounds, the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. Soon joining them will be Brodie Downs, who just wrapped up his second season pitching for the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers (Seattle Mariners).

Each of the pros grew up in the area and grew to love the game while playing on local fields. When Eastlake owner Sam Nichols Jr. approached them about helping out, each was happy to pitch in.

"I'm enjoying it a lot," said Loretelli, who starred at both Beyer High and Modesto JC before going on to become Cal State Stanislaus' career leader in home runs (26). "I love working with the kids, and it's nice to be able to give back to the place where you grew up."

Nichols, the cousin of former St. Louis Cardinals All-Star outfielder Ray Lankford, is grateful to be getting a little help from his friends.

"I had relationships with all of them prior to opening up, and I kept in contact with them all during the season," said Nichols. "When we started, they were in season and weren't available, but they told me they'd be glad to help out once they got home.

"I'm blessed and happy that we have this opportunity with the facility and to have the pro guys helping me and my coaches (who include Ryan McGrath, Jack Jones and Danny Ayala)."

Nichols gets a kick out of seeing the reaction from kids, as well as their parents, when getting schooled by the pros.

"I think it's awesome, and I hope the kids realize how awesome it is," said Nichols. "A lot of them are in awe, and parents are always grabbing their camera phones to take pictures.

"I think it's great for them to get a different perspective from myself or even their parents."

Helping out was a no-brainer for Jackson, who considers Nichols family. Their fathers were best friends -- Sam Sr. also coached Jackson at MJC -- and Jackson "practically grew up around him."

Count Jackson among those impressed with Nichols' operation.

"I think it's great," the former Davis High, MJC and University of the Pacific standout said. "It's a nice, big area, and it's close to where a lot of kids can get in and out. I like what they're doing there."

Jackson who played for the Class A Modesto Nuts in 2008 and spent this past season patrolling center field for the Double-A Tulsa Drillers, has enjoyed the give and take with his young pupils.

"I love working to help make them better baseball players," Jackson said. "When they see somebody my age, they think 'maybe I can do this, too,' and you get their full attention when you're working with them, which is great."

Downs, who knew Nichols and his father through the Cal-Mex League -- Sam Sr. served as an umpire for the league -- is also impressed by the facility and Nichols' coaching staff.

"It's a nice place, and they've done a real good job of getting things together," said Downs, a Beyer High and Modesto JC alum. "I'm gonna be starting here soon with the kids, and I'm really looking forward to that. It's great because it helps us pick up work in the offseason, and it's giving back to the community by teaching what we're learning, teaching kids the basics and helping them develop a good foundation.

"You don't want to over-coach them, you just try to coach them the right things. We've seen all the levels. We know what they can handle, so we're not over-filling them."

Loretelli says the fact that Eastlake is an indoor facility is a major plus.

"Anywhere you can go where you don't have to worry about the weather is ideal because it allows you to work that much more during the winter," Loretelli explained. "You can go in there and hit and throw without worrying about how cold it is or if it's raining."

Rain or shine, Jackson sees a bright future for Eastlake.

"I'm glad to have the chance to be a part of it," said Jackson. "I think they have something really special there."