Kenmore West softball clinic to take place June 27 - 29

By:  Dave Ricci, Metro Source

If you want to learn the game, then seek out help from the best.

The 2011 Kenmore West softball clinic will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 27 - 29 at the Kenmore-West Athletic Complex.

The camp, which is for players from ages 7-16, will focus on the core fundamentals of the game such as hitting, fielding, throwing, sliding, pitching and individual position work.

Instructors will be Lady Blue Devils head coach Matt Chimera and his staff of Joe Catalano, Dennis Sarow, Alex Meglin, Karen Johl and JV coach Kim Leggett.

The Lady Blue Devils, one of the most successful and consistent programs in Western New York, won the 2011 Niagara Frontier League championship, the program’s 11th league crown since 1996.

Under the Chimera/Catalano watch the Blue Devils have won four (1995, ‘99, ‘02 and ‘05) sectional titles, three Far West Regional crowns in 1999, 2002 and 2005. The program’s pinnacle of success was winning the New York State Class A championship in 2002, the first state title for a Ken-West sports team.
Catalano, one of the most respected pitching coaches in the state, has worked some of the areas premiere talent including Michelle Krier and Christine Keleher, who was named the 2002 New York State Player of the Year. Along with a laundry list of titles the Blue Devils program spawned dozens of girls that went on to play in college, many for Division I programs.

Chimera, Catalano and Sarow also coached the Western Region to the gold medal in the 2010 Empire State Games.

All very knowledgeable about the game of softball, the Blue Devils coaching staff is known for running very efficient practices that feature multiple stations that are all designed to enhance specific skills needed to play the game.

The Kenmore West High School is located at 33 Highland Ave in Kenmore.

The varsity softball diamond is located at the corner of Highland Ave. and Delaware Road.
Applications can be found at Sorrentino’s Sports Center, or you can call coach Chimera at 877-4801 to register.

Applications, and the $75 fee, can be mailed to Chimera at 12 Deerhurst Park Blvd, Kenmore, NY 14217.
Checks should be made out to the Kenmore Softball Boosters.