Newtown Parks & Recreation has welcomed Ian Thoesen’s five-week morning Elite Baseball Camp for multiple sessions this summer at Robert Glander Field.

Thoesen, the Newtown Nighthawks’ varsity baseball coach, hosted 7-13-year-old campers, helping to improve batting and fielding skills, preparing them for the future.

The high school’s junior varsity Coach Matt Paola instructs the camp, helping players sharpen their batting stance and assisting campers with making in-game decisions.

Alongside Paola, Jack Carta also trained with the sluggers. Carta is a rising senior who plays baseball at Newtown High School.

“I think it’s a really good opportunity for them to learn a lot about the game and have a lot of fun,” said Paola when asked why kids should join the camp.

Baseball is not an easy sport, as the game works hand and eye coordination, while teaching skills necessary for a player’s respective position. Nowadays, young athletes are developing talent faster at a young age, allowing them to get drafted as young as age 16.

For example, in 2022, the Boston Red Sox drafted then-18-year-old Roman Anthony, whom Major League Baseball named the No. 1 prospect throughout the entire league. Anthony debuted in the majors at age 21.

Paola sees an importance in teaching young players.

“I think just how to conduct yourself the right way, being mature, doing the right things when no one is watching. I talk to them a lot about even just warming up for a game, taking it seriously, doing it the right way and being a good teammate,” said Paola when asked what the most important thing is to teach kids, while young.

“It’s those intangible things and your work ethic that’s going to set you apart from some of the other kids at that age,” Paola added.

For incoming freshmen, gaining advantages before high school tryouts is a must, as roster spots are limited, and joining the camp can do just that.

“They get to see how we stretch, how we throw, the way we do some of the drills. It definitely would give them a leg up, just with feeling comfortable with the high school workouts,” Paola said.

For those interested, the Hawks are holding one more session, August 18-22. Camp runs 9 am to noon each day. Visit newtown-ct.gov and use activity code 409516. Cost is $209.99 for residents and $229.99 for nonresidents.

Tyler Pruneau is a journalism student at University of Connecticut interning with The Newtown Bee this summer. He can be reached at intern@thebee.com.