Where Champions START

A month after Spa Catholic’s triumphant State Championship, Head Coach Alphonse Lambert returns to his summer camp to again build the foundation of a successful baseball program. 

“Probably all of those kids that were on the two state championship teams started at this camp,” said Coach Lambert.

Players from both recent State Championship teams were at West Side Recreational Park at 9 a.m. all week to give back to the program where it all started. 

“It’s a real full circle moment, just imagining me as these kids and having an influence on them is really great,” said Sandy McDonald, who will be going into his senior year this fall. 

Coach Lambert has been running the Spa City Bombers baseball camp for 38 years. Seeing the same faces in the youth camp through to the varsity program is what keeps him going. 

“Hunter’s a great example, here’s a kid that started in our camp. From the first day he moved into town, since sixth grade [he] comes to the camp. Who would have thought that we’d be hugging in the infield after we win a State Championship in Binghamton? It’s just so surreal.”

Coach Dale Long is now in his 20th season working with Coach Lambert and the baseball program. His son graduated from Spa Catholic in 2011 and was a part of the team that won three straight sectional championships. Sometimes when a coach describes the team as family it seems hyperbolic, but for Coach Long the sentiment resonates. 

“You know what, it’s kind of a family situation. We have a very close relationship with our players. We’ve got three or four coaches here who are no longer in high school, and they want to come back and be with the program.”

Coach Lambert and Coach Long will host another week of camp from July 13th through the 17th.