Morin brothers team up to teach baseball basics

Brothers Catalin and Spencer Morin hosted a baseball clinic at the Libro Centre over the weekend. They are seen here with some of their students.

As many minor baseball organizations, including the Amherstburg Cardinals begin to wrap up tryouts for next year’s teams, they will no doubt be looking for players who know the fundamentals.

Brothers Catalin and Spencer Morin hosted a clinic the weekend of Sept. 19-20, teaching prospects how to hit, catch, run the bases with confidence and speed, and receive.

“We are teaching all the fundamentals the kids want to know. With tryouts happening around town, we have aspirations to get more kids into the game,” said “Cat” Morin.

Both played this past season with the Chatham-Kent Barnstormers of the independent professional Inter-County Baseball League.

They put several young players through a series of drills on the turf inside the Libro Centre Sept. 20. 

They were scheduled to be outside at Malden Centre Park but bad weather forced them inside on both days.

Cat said the clinics, which will continue next weekend, are designed for those U8 to U15.

“It’s designed so kids can learn from their peers. That’s the beauty of baseball.”

The instructors promote teamwork and emphasize that developing players often make mistakes but it is their teammates who help them through it.

“Kids want to be here and learn. We teach them to be safe and have fun, it’s rewarding,” he said.

Cat Morin is a multi-sport athlete who was a junior hockey goalie and continues to excel as a left-handed pitcher, most recently with the Barnstormers. 

Spencer, who had a successful college career with the St. Clair Saints is looking forward to returning to the Barnstormers where he showed his versatility this past season. 

Usually an outfielder, when the team lost three shortstops, he moved to that spot.

“There is a lot of room for improvement,” said Spencer of the Chatham-Kent team that struggled but improved down the stretch. “Guys got called up and obviously it impacted the team.”

As far as what his future, he says, “I am going to play in Chatham as long as they want me. I love that community.”

For more information on the clinics, e-mail Catalin at catalinmorin31@gmail.com. 

Morin brothers team up to teach baseball basics

By Fred Groves