By Katie Manzanares

Young Muckleshoot athletes had the opportunity to sharpen their baseball skills this summer as Driveline Baseball brought its training program to the Muckleshoot Athletic Club.

The two-day Driveline Baseball Camp was held Aug. 17-18 and gave young athletes the chance to work on pitching, throwing and hitting through specialized instruction and drills.

A total of 37 athletes participated between the pitching and hitting camps, with sessions divided between players ages 12 and younger and those 13 and older.

The first day focused on throwing and pitching, while the second turned the attention to hitting. The format allowed athletes to spend dedicated time developing different parts of their game while learning techniques used in high-level baseball training.

Driveline Baseball is known for its data-driven approach to player development and works with athletes to improve performance through specialized baseball training.

Bringing the camp to Muckleshoot gave local athletes access to that level of instruction right here in the community.

The camp also continued the Muckleshoot Athletic Club’s efforts to create opportunities for young people to stay active, build their skills and experience new approaches to athletics.

Sports Facility Supervisor Jay-J Yarbrough-Jones said the camp was well received and that the Athletic Club hopes the partnership can continue.

“We had a total head count of 37 athletes at the camp between the pitching and hitting camps, and we look forward to doing something similar to this with Driveline again in the future,” Yarbrough-Jones said.

For the young athletes who participated, the two days offered more than another chance to step onto the field. It was an opportunity to learn, challenge themselves and continue developing their game alongside other athletes from the community.

With 37 athletes taking part in its first camp, the partnership could also open the door for more Driveline training opportunities at Muckleshoot in the future.