Greg Swepston Memorial Baseball/Softball Camps returning in June for youth players

MARION — They had so much fun the Friends of Greg Swepston decided to do it again.

On June 11, the group will host a girls softball camp for those ages 8 to 12 from noon to 3 p.m. at the River Valley complex on Ohio 309 east of Marion. On June 12, at the same time and venue, the baseball clinic will be held for boys between the same ages.

For last year's initial camp, softball was held in the morning and baseball in the afternoon.

"We decided to split it into two days for the sake of the old people who are running it," camp organizer Dave Gorenflo said with a laugh.

Look back at the first clinic: Baseball, softball clinic honors memory of Greg Swepston

Remembering Sweppy:: Greg Swepston, as good a man as Marion's seen, will be missed after his passing this week

What to expect?

Campers for softball and baseball will learn the fundamentals of hitting, fielding, throwing and catching.

On the baseball side, Marion Harding grad and Cleveland Indians draft pick Harry Fry along with fellow alum John Courtright, who pitched for the Cincinnati Reds, will return with Marion Harding's coaching staff of Jeff Bolander and Brett Hall. For softball, Harding grad and former Mount Vernon Nazarene softball standout Tara Hines Davis, Cardington grad and current Cedarville star Dana Bertke are back to instruct, and River Valley assistant coach Brad Morrow will take the place of RV head coach Phil Shepler, who is unavailable.

Gorenflo said other coaches and players will be lined up as they get closer to the clinic.

"It was an enjoyable day. The clinicians who participated enjoyed it," Gorenflo said. "We got lots of good feedback from the participants. A lot of people were saying if you’re doing it again, let me know. Some of the schools that did not participate or did not get the word out said to make sure they know. We’re hoping for an even bigger turnout this year."

What's the cause?

The fee is $30 per player, and the proceeds will go toward the naming rights of The Ohio State University at Marion's Alber Student Center gymnasium for Swepston.

The campus recently renovated the gym, and $250,000 is needed to cover the expenses and secure the naming rights.

Swepston was a Columbus native and a graduate of Ohio State, where he played on the freshman baseball team in the 1950s. After graduation, he moved to Marion where he spent his entire career as a teacher, coach and administrator for the city schools. He was a former head coach for baseball and boys basketball in the late 1960s and early 1970s before serving as the Marion Harding athletic director for much of his tenure.

Swepston was a tireless promoter of youth and civic causes in Marion and Marion County as a member of several community-minded boards and charities.

As a Major League Baseball scout for decades and a season ticket holder for Ohio State football and basketball games, Swepston's Rolodex was immense, and he used those connections to help the Marion County Youth Foundation's annual Charity Celebrity Golf Outing fill out its field.

Being a Marion fixture and a proud Buckeye alum, friends, colleagues and former players and students banded together to name the OSU-M gym after Swepston.

Where does the fundraising stand?

According to Gorenflo, who played baseball for Swepston in the 1960s at Harding and became a lifelong friend in adulthood, the fund grew to $166,000 by early April. The goal is to reach the final $250,000 needed by Aug. 24 when the class of 1969 holds its reunion.

To help them reach the goal, a group of anonymous donors have agreed to double the amount raised between now and Aug. 24. Essentially, the group needs to now raise $42,000 of the $84,000 that remains.

"Every amount contributed between now and then — so that includes whatever we make on the camps and every other donation we get or pledges (of donations) — will count toward that figure. Every dollar will be matched up to $42,000.

"We made $2,500 a year ago (on the clinics). If we exceed that (in June), we’re looking at adding $5,000 or $6,000 or even more to the mix. It’s open to anyone who has already donated and they want to give us a little more. Any little bit gets doubled and will help."

How does one donate?

There are several ways to donate. People can make a one-time donation of any amount. They can also make a pledge that will be payable quarterly, semi-annually or annually over a period of time for of up to five years in length.

There are sponsorship levels available for those who wish to be part of a plaque in the gym: The Cycle is for $40,000 and above, Grand Slam for $10,000 to $30,999, Home Run for $5,000 to $9,999, Triple for $2,500 to $4,999, Double for $1,000 to $2,499 and Single for $500 to $999.

Checks can be made payable to The Ohio State University Foundation, Fund #317597 with attention to Jodi Somerlot. A credit card option is available through a special QR code. More information is available by emailing somerlot.30@osu.edu or gerber.10@osu.edu or by calling 740-725-6156 or 740-725-6069.

"I’m sure there are some people out there who read this and say I need to do that but haven’t done it. Now here’s a chance to do it and maximize your impact," Gorenflo said.

With the donor match of funds, the hope is they can reach their goal before autumn.

"(The match of donations) has only been out there less than a week. We have a Friends of Greg Swepston Facebook page where I posted it and immediately got a response from somebody saying where do I send my money?" Gorenflo said. "We’re excited by the camps that are helping us to get there. We’ll see other responses that we get. It’s early in the game, but we’ve got $1,000 toward (the match) already."

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This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Greg Swepston Memorial Baseball/Softball Camps returning in June for youth players