Auburn High School baseball has a rich history. And varsity head coach TJ Gamba is doing all he can to make younger players aware of it.

For the second straight year, former major league shortstop Kevin Polcovich returned to his hometown to help Gamba with a youth baseball clinic.

While Polcovich, who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1997 and 1998, helped out with the varsity players last winter, he ran drills with younger players, ages 8 to 13, at the Auburn baseball clinic on Friday and Saturday.

Polcovich went over many baseball situations with the youngsters, including base-running and hitting.

“After each station we leave them with recommendations to improve their play,” Gamba said. “It also lets them know what they have to do to improve their own game on their own time.”

Polcovich and Gamba, as well as assistant coach Tom Napoli, were all part of a golden age of Auburn baseball, and all three hope some new banners will be raised soon in the high school gymnasium

“We just want to bring back the old successful baseball play,” Polcovich said.

“We want to have a good clinic. We want people to leave and pass on the good word in hopes that they will come back and bring more people with them.”

Next season, Gamba and Polcovich hope another prestigious alum will join them for a camp - Marc DelPiano, who is a special assistant to the general manager for the Pirates.

“We're just sharing the wealth,” Gamba said. “It's a courtesy charge that these kids will benefit from.”

And it's always good when younger ballplayers can pick the brain of a former major leaguer.

Polcovich stressed the importance of getting out from in front of the television and going outside to play pick-up games. He also taught the players drills they can do when they are alone.

“One thing is I used to hit the ball off of the tee,” Polcovich said. “Or you can take a tennis ball and just throw it up against the wall. That will help your hand-eye coordination.”

Polcovich acknowledges that baseball at almost all levels has turned into a home run derby, so it's important that he reach these kids at a young age to get them on the right track.

“Young kids are like sponges,” Polcovich said. “They soak up the details.”

Gamba hopes that they soak up the right material and put it to work. And while he continues to build up the baseball program in Auburn, Gamba knows where the true credit goes.

“This community has done so much for this program,” he said. “Young kids have to be interested and stay interested.”

With the money raised from the camp, Gamba hopes to get an indoor pitcher's mound and turf for the new outside batting cages.

Gamba hopes all of these improvements will keep the kids involved in the game of and allow them to improve their play.

“Practice makes perfect,” Gamba said. “We want them to feel like they can perform under pressure. Our community comes out and supports us. It might just be the beginning for some of these kids.”