Former Blue Jay Jesse Barfield to headline Kincardine, Clinton baseball camps

Huron-Bruce MP Ben Lobb is pleased to announce that former Toronto Blue Jay and two-time Golden Glove winner Jesse Barfield will be headlining the list of instructors at the second annual Kincardine Minor Baseball Camp and the fifth annual Clinton Minor Baseball Camp, this summer.

Barfield played nine of his 12 Major League Baseball seasons with the Jays. He led the American League in home runs in 1986 and played in the 1986 all-star game. He hit 241 career home-runs and had one of the best outfield arms in baseball history.

Returning to baseball camp for a third straight year is NCAA head baseball coach Mark Brew who is in his 11th season with the Lee University Flames. He directed his first seven Lee teams to the NAIA College World Series before leading the transition to NCAA Division II and the Gulf South Conference last season. He has been named conference Coach of the Year twice (2008 and 2010) and has been named Region Coach of the Year six times (2008-2013). In 2008, he was named National Coach of the Year.

The Clinton Minor Baseball Camp was founded in 2012 by Lobb who noticed that the sport was making a comeback in Huron-Bruce and wanted to help foster that growth. Every year, he has been able to secure sponsors to make the camp affordable so all kids have the chance to participate.

Lobb is not a stranger to the game of baseball. He grew up playing the game in Clinton and attended Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee, on a baseball scholarship.

“Last year we broke our attendance records with more than 250 kids and we look forward to a big year in 2017," says Lobb. "We are excited to have Jesse Barfield headline the camp and welcome Mark Brew back for a third straight year. I can’t thank the municipalities, the local business community and both Kincardine and Clinton Minor Baseball enough for all their support.”

This year’s camp will run July 10-11 at the Clinton Community Ball Park, and July 12-13 at Kincardine's Connaught Park. It is open to boys and girls, ages eight to 18. Individuals can register on-line for the camps at www.kincardineminorbaseballcamp.ca and www.clintonminorbaseballcamp.ca. The cost is $60 per player, and space is limited, so register early!