When the Bourne Braves are not on the field facing tough Cape League hitting and pitching, many of them are working the camps the team provides for young players.

This past week, the team set a record with 87 kids on the diamond receiving instruction at the team’s summer baseball camp.

"We’re looking to get baseball out there," head instructor and Braves pitching coach Brian Pugh said. "We want to help kids improve their skill level. They’re all getting some good work in and are having fun."

This past week, six players from the team joined Pugh as camp instructors. Beau Mills (Fresno State), Ty Wright (Oklahoma State), Brett Bartles (Duke) Josh Stinson (San Jacinto), Greg Reynolds (Stanford) and Andrew Carignan (UNC) are all helping out.

"We try to bounce the players around a little bit," Pugh explained. "We all switch activities and drills to keep everybody stimulated and interested in what they are doing. I try to set up the guys so they work in the areas of their strength, but it’s also important that they be able to teach all aspects of the game."

The camp lasts two and a half hours a day beginning at 9 AM. "We’re trying to give the kids as much information as we can in a two and a half hour period without overloading them," Pugh said. "Everyday, we end with a game where we work on what we’ve learned."

Pugh has taught health and physical education to students from age three through the eighth grade. He recently left his teaching position at Woodland Country Day School in New Jersey to take a coaching position at Wilmington College. 

A graduate of the University of Maine, he coached in the Cape League in 2003 with the Hyannis Mets and last summer in the New England Collegiate Baseball League with the Riverpoint Royals before joining the Braves as a pitching coach this summer.

This summer the Braves have five camps scheduled throughout the season. They run from Monday to Thursday each week.

More information on the baseball camps offered by the Bourne Braves may be obtained by visiting Coady Field during a game; by contacting Pam McClung at Mobeachlady@aol.com; or on the web at www.bournebraves.org.