ALLA Baseball Summer Camp

Participants of the ALLA Baseball Summer Camp enjoyed a week of baseball fun as they worked on baseball skills and then used their new or improved skills in scrimmage games. On the last day of camp the improved baseball players tested their skills in a series of competitions. Many thanks to the volunteers and parents who made the camp a success and special thanks to Coach Bill Swanson of Houghton College, NY, who gave of his time to travel to Jordan and run last week's camp. Thanks, Coach Bill, for a great week of baseball and fun!

ALLA Baseball May 18, 2007

Miqdadi pitcher, Simon, jumps at the ball

Husam scores for Cozmo

Lauren at bat for Cozmo

Farouk of Cozmo slides into third base

Jonas of Persil heads home while Andrew of Brio waits for the ball

Rami pitching for Brio

Sonja bats for Persil

Zach pitches for Commerce Overseas

Two ACES players work to make an out at second base

Hashweh's pitcher comes in for a play at home plate

ACES pitcher in his wind-up

Hashweh player, ready to make a move

Matt bats for JCC

Tim and Seth, at the ready for Pirelli

Lauren at bat for JCC

Josiah crosses the plate, scoring for Pirelli

ALLA Baseball, May 11-14

ALLA baseball players braved khamasini weather conditions on Friday to play true desert baseball. The yellow tinge of the morning photographs is a result of a dust filled sky.

A coach-pitch player hits for Grand Market

An X-Press player hits the ball

Coach Tareq of Grand Market consults with one of his players

Two X-Press runners make it home

A runner for Persil makes it to second base

Andrew pitches for Brio

Josh bats for Chili House

Hythem pitches for Jordan Express

Chris of Jordan Express makes an out at home-plate

Jon takes the mound for Chili House

Matthew gets a hit for JCC

ALLA Baseball, May 4, 2007

Layla of Sheraton is ready to field the ball

Lindsay of Jeraan happily runs to first base

Sheraton's first baseman picks up the ball in hopes of putting out the runner from MacDonalds

Nicholas of MacDonalds, up to bat

X-Press's catcher tries to make the play at home but Miqdadi's runner is safe

A Grand Market Batter swings hard

A Cozmo player runs hard, trying to beat the ball to first base

Sarah of Cozmo tries to make an out at first base

Saif pitches to a win for Arafat Sweets

Munib of Arafat Sweets is safe on third, though a good effort is made by Josh of Persil

Arafat Sweets's runner is safe after a close play at home

Miles of A.C.E.S. gets a hit

Nathaniel of Commerce Overseas Group waits for the ball as an A.C.E.S. player makes it to third base

John of Pirelli pitches his team to a close win over Jordan Express, 6-5

Pitching~

An observer of one of last Friday's Senior games commented, "Why does it always come down to the pitching?" It may not always come down to the pitching, but this person makes an astute observation: pitching is one of the most important components of baseball and the pitching position, is one of the most, if not the most, important defensive positions. And, yes, games are often determined by the quality of a team's pitching.

Indeed, the main action in a baseball game is pitching. One of the nine defensive players, the pitcher, stands on a rubber strip, or a mound, and throws the ball to his catcher, who crouches behind home plate, glove at the ready, wearing a helmut, mask, and padding. Players of the offensive team take turns trying to hit these pitches while standing next to home plate.

If the pitch goes directly over home plate above the knee level and below the armpits of the batter, it is a strike, even if the batter does not swing at the ball. If the batter swings and misses the ball, this is also called a strike. Three strikes and a batter is out and the next one comes up to bat. Three outs and the offensive team goes out to the field to play defense while the other team bats. Good pitchers can prevent the opposing team from scoring many runs.

Pitching may look easy but have you ever tried to hit a target 15 to 20 meters away with a stone? If you hit it the first time, could you do it 2 more times? How many times could you hit the target if you threw 50 times. There is a lot of skill involved in consistently throwing pitches over home plate so that the batters cannot hit them. So, how does a child develop into a good pitcher?

First of all, every baseball player needs to learn to throw properly and practice a lot. From a young age,the child should be playing catch regularly. Mom and Dad, you can start by playing catch before and during baseball season with your son or daughter (say, 10 minutes a day, 3 times a week). You can also encourage your children to play catch with each other.

Kids who want to pitch, however, need to go one step further. After a child has developed his throwing skill , he can begin to learn proper pitching form from his coach (usually around ages 10 to 12). In addition to regular throwing, those who want to pitch need to practice throwing at a target with good form and at different speeds. Over time, plenty of practice will strengthen the muscles and tendons and prevent injury. If kids have the desire and dedication, by the time they get to be "Seniors" (age 14 to 17) they will be able to throw 95 pitches in a game at around 90 to 110 or more km/hour speed.

The Amman Little League baseball program needs more pitchers every year at all levels to have better quality games. You could give your son or daughter the opportunity to pitch some day by playing catch often with them while they are still young.

Coach Tom

Commissioner

ALLA Baseball

ALLA Baseball Players, April 27, 2007

Ryan of Sheraton sizes up the situation

Joshua and Feres of Pharmacy 1 enjoy some on-the-field comraderie

A Sheraton player knocks the ball off the tee

MacDonald's first-base man watches a Jeeran runner make it to the base

Coach Josiah advises a Jeeran player

Joseph gets a hit for XPress

Kristen gets a base hit for Cozmo

Coach Randy looks on as his second-base man fields the ball

Farouk gets a hit for Cozmo

Josh of Persil gets ready for the ball as a Commerce Overseas player approaches third base

Ali pitches for Persil

Travis of Commerce Overseas has his glove ready, but Caleb of Persil is safe after sliding into home plate

Hashweh players are ready in the field

Brothers Jonathan....

and Matthew pitch JCC to a win

Fadi of Pirelli looks for a chance to steal, but Josh of JCC is ready for a pick-off

David of Pirelli has only a moment to relax after sliding into third base--safe!

Chris of Jordan Express warms up in the field

Thanks to the OAR Foundation for their generous support of ALLA Baseball