Wilkes University Youth Baseball Camp Brings Big League Lessons Home for Two Memorable Days
By: Joelle Martinelli | SportzWire | December 31, 2025 | Photo courtesy Joelle Martinelli
The Wilkes University Youth Baseball Camp was held December 29 and 30, bringing nearly 100 kids from kindergarten through eighth grade together for two busy days of skills training and live games. Athletes came in from all over Northeastern Pennsylvania, filling the space with baseball bags, nervous excitement, and kids ready to prove what they can do right alongside the pros.
The camp was organized by Wilkes University Head Baseball Coach Mike Guy. Day one took place at Wilkes with a focus on skills training. Hitting, speed, defense, and positional work filled the schedule, with stations moving quickly and kids constantly rotating through each drill. Five MLB players were in attendance and were fully involved in the skills portion, working stations and spending real time with the kids alongside Wilkes baseball players.
The Wilkes players were everywhere. They coached, demonstrated, encouraged, joked, and stepped in whenever a kid needed a reset or a little confidence boost. The kids gravitated toward them easily. They listened closely, copied their movements, and asked questions without hesitation. These young adult athletes give back willingly and do it often through Wilkes youth camps. That kind of presence reflects the culture Coach Guy has built within the program.
Coach Guy explained why having both college and professional players involved matters. “It’s really great to have the pro guys around,” he said. “They’re all from this area. Bringing them here shows these kids that with hard work, they can get there too. These aren’t just guys you see on TV.”
When asked what he hopes the kids remember most, his answer stayed simple. “Always have fun with baseball. Be versatile. We put them in a lot of positions here. Don’t lock into one. Baseball is a game of failure, but you can’t let that failure get to you.”
On day two, the camp shifted to live games inside the dome at Misericordia University. While all MLB players worked the skills camp the day before, a few stayed on for the games too, remaining involved on the field as the kids put their work into action.
Padres right-handed pitcher Jaxon Dalena talked about why coming back to work with youth players matters to him. “Helping kids fall in love with the sport I grew up playing,” he said. “I get to play my dream job, and if I can help them adopt that same dream and work toward the goals I had growing up, that’s important.”
Dalena stayed engaged the entire time, playing catch, answering questions, and signing autographs. The interactions were constant and unforced, the kind that don’t feel scheduled.
Dodgers left-handed pitcher Matt Lanzendorfer spoke honestly about his path after signing autographs for young fans. “I started here at Misericordia, a Division III school. It’s a long process. You feel like everyone’s ahead of you, so you work harder. You have to be disciplined every day.”
Asked about the importance of hard work in the offseason, his answer came quickly. “One hundred percent. The offseason is everything. If you don’t put the work in when no one’s watching, the results will never come.”
Diamondbacks outfielder Jake McCarthy, Royals right-handed pitcher Mason Black, and Guardians outfielder Ryan Cersarini were also on the floor throughout the camp, choosing to spend their offseason time giving back to the community they came from.
By the end of the camp, kids were still talking baseball as they headed out, comparing autographs, replaying drills, moments, and conversations from the two days.
