It’s nearly winter and the local prep basketball season has just begun. Yet the sport of baseball was front and center in a unique event held Nov. 30 at Bishop O’Connell High School.
Despite chilly and rainy weather, some 60 players ages 11 to 14 from throughout the metro area gathered at the Arlington private school for a free Thanksgiving-weekend instructional camp.
The event, held on the school’s baseball diamond and inside the school, was the first of its kind at O’Connell.
The camp was for underserved baseball players across the region. It was organized and run by O’Connell senior catcher Jack Woda in conjunction with the nonprofit Baseball Cares and H3 Baseball organizations.
In addition to Woda, who will play at East Carolina University, some other high-school players who are committed to play at Division I colleges — and some pro players — gave instruction to the participants.
Former Major League player Brandon Guyer talks to the campers (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)
Multiple high-school players were from O’Connell, including Woda, Shota Fogus (University of Richmond), Drew Markey (Presbyterian College) and Bryant James (University of Virginia).
The H3 Baseball organization served as the primary financial sponsor through its Points of Light Program, which supports community-focused initiatives. The camp featured pro-style workouts, skill instruction, mental-performance coaching, a recruiting seminar and a community equipment-donation drive.
“I grew up going to youth baseball camps. I always have wanted to run one of these to try and give back to the game from what I have learned,” Woda said. “It’s a lot of work, a lot to do and fun.”
Woda said the idea is to make the camp an annual event at O’Connell during the Thanksgiving weekend.
One of the camp’s speakers was former Major League player Brandon Guyer, a standout at Herndon High School and the University of Virginia.
Guyer emphasized the off-the-field importance of mental attitude and properly preparing for the sport with discipline, proper mindset, routines, process, correct breathing techniques and commitment.
“What you are born with is just part of it all,” he told the campers. “What is more important is what you do with it.”
Campers listen to Brandon Guyer’s talk about baseball (staff photo by Dave Facinoli)
Guyer serves as a mental-strength coach for the Los Angeles Angels and the University of Virginia Cavaliers baseball teams. He played in the Major Leagues for the Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Indians, retiring from the game in 2020.
Guyer homered in his first Major League at-bat and is a Major League percentage leader in being hit by pitches.
McLean resident Nick Morabito, who plays in the New York Mets organization, concluded the camp by speaking and offering advice and tips to the young players. Pitcher Bryce Collins from the Chicago White Sox organization also participated in the camp.
Woda’s father, Steve, helped to organize the event. He said his son and the others were able to organize a significant endeavor in their spare time for young players who need a bit more support to achieve their baseball goals.
Jeff Burton is a founder and the board chair of H3 Baseball. He attended the camp and praised Woda and his father for the organization of the event.
H3 Baseball exists to make the game accessible to all, while empowering and supporting the families, coaches and communities who shape players’ growth on and off the field. The organization envisions a future where every community has the resources and infrastructure to make baseball accessible and transformative for all.