By Christian Davis
C & G Sports Writer

TROY — Andrew Williams stepped up to the plate July 31 at the Troy Community Center and took a cut.

Foul tip.

On the next toss, the 10-year-old belted a shot to second base, good enough for a single.

Not surprising, considering baseball is the Troy resident’s favorite sport.

But Andrew, along with the 40 other kids ranging in age from 4 to 10, got a taste of a wide array of athletics at the Troy Parks and Recreation’s Sportster Camp.

The camp, new this summer, is designed to develop confidence in different athletics, including baseball, soccer, volleyball and basketball.

Recreation Supervisor Barb Rupas said the camp’s motto is, “All sports, all fun.”
“(The camp) is new and it’s really been a big hit,” she said.

Kenny Goddard can attest to that. The 2007 Troy High graduate is the coordinator of the camp.

“They love it,” he said. “They have fun and they like to be outside to run around and scream.”

Goddard said the goal of the camp is to, “initiate the kids into different kinds of sports that they would play when they get older.”

For Andrew, he said he’s learned to use the backboard more in basketball, and while baseball is his favorite sport, he’s found he’s not too bad at volleyball, either.

“It just comes to me,” he said.

Tyler Les, 5, of Troy, said his favorite sport also baseball.

“Because I’m a really good hitter; I’m a really good thrower; and I like to play all the time,” he said.

On top of learning new sports, Andrew and Tyler also said they’ve been meeting new buddies.

“I think it’s a great experience for making new friends,” Andrew said.

“I have one friend named Jackson, and I really like him,” Tyler said of fellow 5-year-old Jackson Wilkins. “I met him here.”

This is the third and final session of the Sportster Camp this summer, but with the positive reception, the camp is expected to be a mainstay.

“I think it’s important because it gets them out of the house and it gets them active,” Goddard said. “They get to hang out with other kids their age and meet new people.”

For more information on what the Troy Parks and Recreation Department has to offer, visit their Web site www.troymi.gov/parksandreconline.

You can reach Sports Writer Christian Davis at cdavis@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1062.