Central stages winter softball clinics

Central College

PELLA — Central College will conduct five softball clinics this winter for players ranging from grades 1-12.

Three are offered Saturday, Jan. 28. A youth skills clinic for players in grades 1-4 will be conducted from 9 a.m.-noon. Instruction will be provided in hitting, baserunning, short game and infield/outfield play.

That’s followed by a high school skills clinic from 1-4 p.m. for players in grades 9-12.

A unique mental skills training clinic will also be conducted from 9 a.m.-noon for players in grades 9-12. The clinic utilizes a classroom setting to provide instruction on maintaining focus and confidence, handling a slump, playing in pressure situations and more.

Two additional skills clinics are offered Saturday, Feb. 4. A junior high clinic for players in grades 5-8 is set for 9 a.m. to noon with a high school clinic from 1-4 p.m. for players in grades 9-12.

Each clinic is limited to 50 participants except the mental skills training clinic, which limits registration to 25. Cost for each clinic is $75. Those attending both the high school skills clinic and mental skills training clinic pay a reduced combined fee of $100.

The clinics will be staged in H.S. Kuyper Fieldhouse and will be led by Central head coach

George Wares, associate head coach Alicia O’Brien and pitching coach Gary Grimes along with Central players and other staff members. Wares is the winningest coach in NCAA Division III history with a 1064-362-3 record in 32 seasons, with 27 NCAA tournament berths and four national championships.

A registration form for all clinics is available on the Central athletics website at www.central.edu/athletics/camps. For additional information, contact Wares at (641) 628-5195 or waresg@central.edu.