Parksville to host baseball coaching, ump clinics

Oceanside Minor Baseball is bringing in UBC Thunderbirds’ Head Coach Terry McKaig to run some coaching clinics this season.

PARKSVILLE — Oceanside Minor Baseball is bringing in UBC Thunderbirds’ Head Coach Terry McKaig to run some coaching clinics this season.

In his 14th season as the Thunderbirds’ head coach, McKaig led the program to its second-most successful campaign in history (a fourth place finish in the 2006 NAIA World Series).

Thirteen UBC players have been drafted into Major League Baseball under McKaig’s guidance, most notably pitcher Jeff Francis, who was selected ninth overall by the Colorado Rockies in 2002 and currently starts for the Kansas City Royals.

“The first clinic will be on March 29 and we’re hoping to schedule one or two more for late April. Given how busy Terry’s schedule is, we’re really lucky to get him.  In the past, it’s been rare to have an instructor with his level of expertise and knowledge,” said Mike Parlow, president of OMBA.

“We figured that by investing in our house league coaches, the kids would ultimately benefit. When we brought up the idea to Bruce Brown, he stepped forward yet again and Save-On-Foods is helping us offset the costs of the program.”

As well, OMBA will once again host an Umpire Training Clinic at Springwood Middle School on April 10. For more information go to www.oceansidebaseball.ca.

— News Staff

Parksville Qualicum Beach News