Makensie McAvoy, Rachel Dwyer and Kristen Wyckoff grew up on Plant City’s softball fields while learning the game and forging friendships. Although the three went separate ways in high school and college, they didn’t hesitate to get together this summer and give back to their hometown.
From Monday, July 25, through Wednesday, July 27, the girls teamed up to host a softball camp at the Randy L. Larson Softball Four-Plex.
“We really wanted to give back to the community and do something that we love and show other people how great it is,” Dwyer said.
The idea first came up about a month and one half ago when McAvoy, who had recently graduated, got some inspiration from other college players.
“I saw two of our old teammates doing a camp in their hometown, so I was like, ‘Oh, that’s such a great idea,’” McAvoy said. “So I texted (Dwyer and Wyckoff).”
They decided to host a skills camp for girls ages 7 to 13. Although it was the first time the three had held their own camp together, Wyckoff has had plenty of experience doing camps in the past.
“I’ve been doing these type of camps all summer for USF or the City of Tampa,” she said. “It’s kind of cool, being able to teach little kids that look up to all of us that go to college and give back to them and show them what it’s like to play at an upper level.”
The Plant City camp hosted 13 girls during its three-day span. It covered the basics: hitting, pitching, throwing, fielding, position play fundamentals and conditioning.
“Some of them don’t even know the real, real basics of it,” Dwyer said. “It’s good to let them know, because people don’t teach them some things they should know.”
The women are already thinking about hosting more camps this winter and next summer.
Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTORS
Makensie McAvoy
- Plant City High alumna
- Graduated from Florida Gulf Coast University in 2016 with a marketing degree
- Will begin her job as a teacher in Tampa in the fall
Kristen Wyckoff
- Plant City High alumna
- Has one year left studying physical therapy at the University of South Florida
- Second baseman
Rachel Dwyer
- Chamberlain High alumna
- Has two years of eligibility left at Florida International University and is a pitcher
- Biology major who hopes to go to dental school after graduation