Brighton and area youth had the chance to learn from a former Toronto Blue Jays and World Series Champ at King Edward Park Tuesday.
NCAA/OCAA pitcher Shaine O’Keefe – who recently returned home after playing college ball in Mississippi and who was coached by Rob Butler – brought the outfielder to Brighton as part of a special development baseball camp he was putting on.
Butler met O’Keefe when the 23-year-old pitcher was just 11 years old and coached him in elite travel baseball with the Ontario Prospects for seven-eight years.
To see how far O’Keefe has come, how he’s giving back to kids and growing the game now, it meant everything, said Butler, on Tuesday, while helping kids with their swing, signing autographs and taking pictures with the kids with his World Series ring and trophy.
Butler said these types of camps are crucial for the game to grow and for up-and-coming kids, especially in smaller towns where there often isn’t as much opportunity.
Butler also touched on how O’Keefe has a lot of experiences to pull from to help area youth, having worked with multiple players and coaches over the years, including his brother Rich Butler, who also played in the major leagues.
As previously reported, O’Keefe has been putting on camps and pitching clinics this summer sharing his love for the game and learnings with area youth after returning home from playing college ball in Mississippi the last three years. Before this, O’Keefe was at Humber College playing ball.
Now, he’s turned his eye towards paying it forward with the camps/clinics.
The Keefer Baseball Camp Tuesday went great, with kids getting some help with hitting and pitching, said O’Keefe, who also hopes bringing in Butler may have a lasting impact for some local kids.
O’Keefe will be back helping kids on a second day for the camp on Wednesday.
“I’m trying my best and I hope that I can eventually one day become a really good baseball coach and send some of these kids on to college to get a scholarship down in the states or whatever, maybe even do better than what I did and go play pro somewhere,” shared O’Keefe earlier.
Years down the line, O’Keefe has also shared hopes of opening an indoor baseball facility locally so kids can continue to build on their passion for the game through the winter months.
Residents looking for more information on the camps/clinics, can email Keeferbaseball23@gmail.com.
(Written by: Sarah Hyatt)
