Young players get lessons at Cincinnati Reds Legends Youth Baseball/Softball Camp
The 2021 Eric Davis Speedster Award winners from the 28th annual Cincinnati Reds Legends Youth Baseball/Softball Camp were, from left, Jason Ludwick, Gavin Dawson, Victoria Norris, Natalia Bee, Clay Moore, Bryson Hall and Chaney Brown. Sean “The Mayor” Casey posed with the winners. (Photo Provided)
The 2021 Pete Rose Award winners from the 28th annual Cincinnati Reds Legends Youth Baseball/Softball Camp were, from left, J.T. French and Carter Dawson. Not pictured is Chloe Lewis. Sean “The Mayor” Casey and Leo “Mr. Automatic” Cardenas, former members of the Cincinnati Reds, pose with the winners. (Photo Provided)
The 2021 Bronson Arroyo Young Flamethrower Award winners from the 28th annual Cincinnati Reds Legends Youth Baseball/Softball Camp were, from left, Caleb Atkinson, Clay Moore, Jason Ludwick, Abigail York, Kaycee Berentz, Lucas Cosper, Connor Wenmoth and Alex Wenmoth. With the winners is Sean “The Mayor” Casey and Leo “Mr. Automatic” Cardenas, former members of the Cincinnati Reds. (Photo Provided)
The 2021 Pokey Reese Defense Award winners 28th annual Cincinnati Reds Legends Youth Baseball/Softball Camp were, from left, Colton DeMoss, Breanna Wagner, Wade Dusky, Braxton Wagner, Carter Casto and Carter Brown. Sean “The Mayor” Casey and Leo “Mr. Automatic” Cardenas, former members of the Reds, pose with the honorees. (Photo Provided)
The 2021 Leo Cardenas Bunting Award winners from the 28th annual Cincinnati Reds Legends Youth Baseball/Softball Camp were, Christopher Sheets, Colton DeMoss, Ella Montgomery, Ralphie Rhodes, Luke Everly. Not pictured is Chloe Lewis. Sean “The Mayor” Casey and Leo “Mr. Automatic” Cardenas, former players on the Cincinnati Reds, are shown with the winners. (Photo Provided)
The 2021 Johnny Bench Homerun Award winners from the 28th annual Cincinnati Reds Legends Youth Baseball/Softball Camp were, from left, Nathaniel Bowen, Kaycee Berentz, Abigail York, Lucas Dennis, Wade Dusky and Zack Lindsey. With the winners is Sean “The Mayor” Casey and Leo “Mr. Automatic” Cardenas, former members of the Cincinnati Reds. (Photo Provided)
The 2021 Eric Davis Speedster Award winners from the 28th annual Cincinnati Reds Legends Youth Baseball/Softball Camp were, from left, Jason Ludwick, Gavin Dawson, Victoria Norris, Natalia Bee, Clay Moore, Bryson Hall and Chaney Brown. Sean “The Mayor” Casey posed with the winners. (Photo Provided)
The 2021 Pete Rose Award winners from the 28th annual Cincinnati Reds Legends Youth Baseball/Softball Camp were, from left, J.T. French and Carter Dawson. Not pictured is Chloe Lewis. Sean “The Mayor” Casey and Leo “Mr. Automatic” Cardenas, former members of the Cincinnati Reds, pose with the winners. (Photo Provided)
The 2021 Bronson Arroyo Young Flamethrower Award winners from the 28th annual Cincinnati Reds Legends Youth Baseball/Softball Camp were, from left, Caleb Atkinson, Clay Moore, Jason Ludwick, Abigail York, Kaycee Berentz, Lucas Cosper, Connor Wenmoth and Alex Wenmoth. With the winners is Sean “The Mayor” Casey and Leo “Mr. Automatic” Cardenas, former members of the Cincinnati Reds. (Photo Provided)
The 2021 Pokey Reese Defense Award winners 28th annual Cincinnati Reds Legends Youth Baseball/Softball Camp were, from left, Colton DeMoss, Breanna Wagner, Wade Dusky, Braxton Wagner, Carter Casto and Carter Brown. Sean “The Mayor” Casey and Leo “Mr. Automatic” Cardenas, former members of the Reds, pose with the honorees. (Photo Provided)
The 2021 Leo Cardenas Bunting Award winners from the 28th annual Cincinnati Reds Legends Youth Baseball/Softball Camp were, Christopher Sheets, Colton DeMoss, Ella Montgomery, Ralphie Rhodes, Luke Everly. Not pictured is Chloe Lewis. Sean “The Mayor” Casey and Leo “Mr. Automatic” Cardenas, former players on the Cincinnati Reds, are shown with the winners. (Photo Provided)
The 2021 Johnny Bench Homerun Award winners from the 28th annual Cincinnati Reds Legends Youth Baseball/Softball Camp were, from left, Nathaniel Bowen, Kaycee Berentz, Abigail York, Lucas Dennis, Wade Dusky and Zack Lindsey. With the winners is Sean “The Mayor” Casey and Leo “Mr. Automatic” Cardenas, former members of the Cincinnati Reds. (Photo Provided)
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VIENNA -- The 28th annual Cincinnati Reds Legends Youth Baseball/Softball Camp was held June 21-22 at Jackson Park in Vienna.
Sean "The Mayor" Casey, former Reds first baseman, and former shortstop Leo "Mr. Automatic" Cardenas attended the camp that focused on hitting, fielding, pitching, running bases and bunting skills.
Jill Barber, Mid-Ohio Valley Softball Hall of Fame inductee, was head coach for the girls groups and instructed all aspects of the game.
Casey taught hitting fundamentals and the mechanics of hitting.
"Getting your glove in the dirt" was Cardenas' beginning drill in teaching the proper way of fielding a ground ball. He also worked on the shortstop to second fielding flip for the double play.
Pitching skills were taught by Barry Smith, a former Marshall University and Marietta College pitcher. Chad Barnes and Jim Wilhelm taught the art of bunting while Wilhelm taught on base-running skills.
Middleport/Pomeroy coach Ron Casci taught hitting.
"The camp was an awesome success" said Mike Wagner, the camp's longtime director. "In 28 years worth of camps, I have never seen an instructor with as much high energy as Sean Casey. He could teach your grandma to hit .300. I mean, he was that good."
Camp attendance was near normal after the pandemic, Wagner said.
"Having 'The Mayor' Sean Casey here to instruct local kids was a dream come true for many children and Reds fans in the valley," Wagner said. "It was nice watching the children have so much fun and an eagerness to get out on the field and work with Casey and Cardenas, legendary Cincinnati Reds heroes."