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06/14/2018 12:00 AMSenior Frank Camera made an impact no matter where he was slotted on the field for the East Haven baseball team. Frank played both right field and shortstop for the Yellowjackets this spring, helping the team record 10 victories, including one in the Class L State Tournament.
Frank was a utility guy who saw time all over the field while growing up, although he primarily played the infield. When the Easties lost a couple of outfielders last year, Frank was asked to play in the outfield. He still saw time at shortstop when East Haven’s shortstop pitched, playing wherever Head Coach Butch Johnson needed him.
“I kind of started when playing for my dad in Little League. We always needed players at different spots, so I kind of learned how to play all of the positions for when I was needed anywhere,” says Frank. “I feel it’s a very important skill, because you want to do what the coach needs you to do. If he needs me to play one position one day, I’ll do it for him and do it to the best of my ability. If he needs to me play another position the next day, same thing. I’ll give him the best that I have and give it my all at that spot, too.”
Frank welcomed the move to the outfield as a junior last season. No matter where he’s playing, Frank is always having fun on the field, and he feels that’s the most important thing.
“I have fun everywhere,” Frank says. “I kind of prefer leaning to the infield, but I enjoy the outfield, as well.”
One of the biggest reasons Frank was able to play well at multiple positions was due to his speed. Frank led the Yellowjackets with six stolen bases as their leadoff hitter this year, and he knows that ability is one of his greatest assets.
“I feel like being fast is important because, if I get on base a lot, I can steal second or steal third to make it easier for the guys to do their job and produce, so we score runs. When I was growing up, I was one of the smallest kids, so speed was the biggest thing I brought to the table,” says Frank, who was also a guard for the East Haven boys’ basketball squad. “As my career grew on, I became a middle infielder and you need to be fast there, because you need to have range. As I moved to the outfield, it’s also important to be fast, because you need to run down balls in the gaps and prevent guys from taking extra bases.”
Coach Johnson appreciates Frank’s willingness to do whatever was best for the Easties. Johnson says that Frank did everything that was asked of him at practices and games day in and day out.
“He’s a hard worker who played many positions to help the team,” says Johnson. “He’s got a great glove at all positions, a consistent bat, and good speed. He was a total team player.”
Frank says that he feels great pride for having the chance to suit up for his hometown high school. It means everything to Frank that he’s been able to enjoy the experience alongside his lifelong friends.
“I had a blast my past four years. I enjoyed everything about the team, especially because all the guys I played with, I grew up playing with, and we stuck together. We stayed in East Haven and had a real bond, brotherhood at East Haven,” Frank says. “It meant a lot to me to wear East Haven colors and take the field together with my brothers. It felt like a family. We were really close and I had a blast.”
Frank will be playing baseball with the Connecticut Wolfpack this summer. In the fall, Frank is going to attend Fairfield University, where he hopes to walk on to the baseball team.
“I grew up and have loved baseball since I could start playing. I feel it’s very important to extend my baseball career, because it’s something I love and a good way to stay active and keep myself active,” says Frank. “It’s something I’m passionate about and I love playing.”