Compiled by Jim Horvath

School is out, temperatures are up and baseball diamonds are buzzing with activity throughout the Westshore area. Summer is officially here, and that also means the Phil Bova Baseball Camp is right around the corner.

The Bova Camp, one of the most popular youth baseball day camps in the Cleveland area, will take the field for the 39th time next Monday, June 18, on the grounds of the Westlake Recreation Center. Boys ages 7 though 14 will enjoy five mornings and afternoons of baseball fun and instruction.

This is not your run-of-the-mill baseball camp, however.

Coaches from the professional, college and high school level with over 200 years of experience make up Bova’s staff. Player evaluations are given during Competition Day to monitor progress in throwing, hitting and bunting. Each camper will receive a written evaluation, and individual instruction at all age levels is included throughout the week.

Batting cages are made available, and games are played on seven fields. In addition to a baseball cap and T-shirt, each camper receives a professional camp photo. A hot lunch is also provided, and a Best Camper Plaque is awarded in each age group.

On June 18, registration and check in begins at 8 a.m. Throughout the week, instruction begins shortly after 8:15 a.m. and runs to 11:30 a.m. Campers are back on the field at 12:30 p.m., with games starting at 1 p.m. Individual instruction and stations at 2 p.m., with the staff-to-camper ratio listed as one coach for every 10 campers.

Camp concludes each day at 4 p.m. On Friday, June 22, the staff will conduct a short awards ceremony following the last session. Parents and family are invited.

The cost for the camp is still just $230, and there are still openings available. For more information and to register, go to www.bovacamps.com or call (440) 779-1390.

Crushers getting comfortable at home

After a slow start at home, the Lake Erie Crushers have finally turned the corner a bit at the friendly confines of All Pro Freight Stadium.

Tuesday night, the Crushers won their first series of the young 2012 season with an 8-2 win over the Washington WildThings in front of just over 2,000 fans at The Pro. It was the team’s second straight win over the WildThings, with the good guys claiming a 9-4 win on Monday night.

On Tuesday, starting pitcher Trevor Longfellow raised his record to 2-0 with eight scoreless innings of work. Adrian Ortiz hit his first home run of the season, and Brandon Decker raised his average to .286 with two hits and a pair of runs batted in.

The Crushers, now 9-14, go for the sweep Wednesday night at 7:05 on Marine Appreciation Night. A win would lift them past Washington in the Frontier League East Division Standings. For ticket information, go to www.lakeeriecrushers.com or call (440) 934-3636.

Demon netters earn scholastic awards

Westlake tennis team members Stephen Fleischer and Kevin Wang have earned Ohio Tennis Coaches Association scholar athlete awards, according the head coach Jeffery Mannies.

Fleischer, a senior, was awarded the Gold Raquet Award. To qualify, he had to be a senior who had earned two varsity letters in tennis and had maintained a grade point average of at least 3.75 for six semesters.

Wang, a junior, was awarded the Silver Raquet Award. To qualify, he had to be a junior who has earned two varsity letters in tennis and has maintained a grade point average of at least 3.75 for four semesters.