Everyday from 9 a.m. to noon, you'll find the baseball fields at Wareham High School filled with ball players: from boys and girls as young as 4-years old, to college players on their way to the major leagues.

The Gatemen Youth Clinic's first session of camp is hosting 50 young athletes, and the next session will hold about the same amount. There is no cap for the program, and no one is turned away. The director of the program, Manny Borges, offers scholarships to anyone that can't afford the $50 fee for younger children or $120 fee for older kids for two weeks. Additionally, the schedule is flexible. Kids could come for one day, or come for all four weeks.

The purpose of the camp, Borges said, is to keep kids playing baseball and continue developing their skills after the league seasons ends.

“In a casual, fun, back-to-the-sandlot-days type of baseball. It's not regimented to the point where they become robots,” said Borges, pointing out the younger group of kids playing a game together.

The younger kids play various games and even indulge in a slip-n-slide every week, especially on hot days.

The older kids, on the other hand, learn all the fundamentals and mechanics of baseball. They do catching, pitching, outfield, and batting drills in small groups led by Gatemen players.

All of the instructors are Gatemen players, except for Borges. The Gatemen take turns alternating weeks. This also gives the children a chance to learn different styles from different players, Borges said.

“The kids are here to be with them,” said Borges. “A lot of the kids watch the Gatemen games, and if a player messes up, they'll hear it from [their students] the next day.”

Some kids traveled from other states, including New York and Florida, just to attend the camp.

“It's a good camp run by good players,” said 14-year-old Brian Bernhardt, and out-of-state player.

Sixteen-year-old New Yorker Henry Puopolo said he liked the intensity of the camp, “five hours, five days a week.”

The first session began on July 5 and ends on July 15. The next one is from July 18-29. Children ages 4-5 years attend from 9 to 10 a.m., while 5- and 6-year-olds attend from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Wareham High School softball field. The fee is $50 per player.

Intermediate and advanced clinics are offered for children ages 8-12 and ages 13-15 in the sessions from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.. Ages 8-12 play on the softball field, while ages 13 and up play on Palmer Field. The fee is $120 per player.

Private lessons are also available.