County's favorite son comes home

CRYSTAL RIVER -- What do you get when you take eight former and current major leaguers and combine them with several hundred Citrus County youngsters? The Annual Mike Hampton Family Day, of course.

For the third straight year, Citrus County's favorite son will play host to Citrus County's youth in an event created to let the Colorado Rockies hurler impart some baseball wisdom -- and a little good will -- on the local youth baseball community.

"Last year was great and we're expecting in excess of 400 kids this year," said Tara Salute, executive director of the Mike Hampton Pitching-in Foundation, which is co-sponsoring the event with the Citrus County Boys and Girls Clubs.

"This year should be a little more exciting," she said. "We have more players, so we'll have more stations for the kids and the players will be able to do more individualized instruction."

The event, open to kids 6 and over, will run from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at Bicentennial Park in Crystal River and provide instruction in four areas: outfield, infield, pitching and hitting.

Of course, with 400-plus kids, Hampton won't be able to do it alone, which is why he's bringing a few friends to help out.

Also attending are Brian Bohanon, Gabe White and Mike Myers from the Rockies, James Mouton and Sean Berry (Milwaukee Brewers), John Hudek (Houston Astros) and Steve Carlton (Philadelphia Phillies).

Though it is one of several events planned for the weekend -- including a dinner/auction slated for later that night at Rock Crusher Canyon, the Family Day is clearly one of Hampton's favorite events.

"He really enjoys coming home and the clinic is his favorite part of the whole weekend," Salute said. "Mike likes anything child-related."

The event, and money donated by Hampton and the Pitching-in Foundation, has been a big boost for the Boys and Girls Clubs.

"It's a wonderful opportunity to utilize Mike and the support he gives the Boys and Girls Clubs," said Pennie Anderson, executive director of the Citrus County Boys and Girls Clubs.

The weekend will conclude with a $75 per person dinner at Rock Crusher Canyon that will feature live and silent auctions, a live raffle, dinner and entertainment.

Proceeds from the event will go to the Mike Hampton Pitching-in Foundation.

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