McCamment signs to Sauk Valley Community College

Gary Dudgeon

August 06, 2008 11:16 pm

— Wednesday morning, Kieran McCamment signed to attend Sauk Valley Community College to further his baseball career.
Sauk Valley, also known as the Skyhawks, is located in Dixon, Ill., the birthplace of late-President Ronald Reagan. Its baseball program is under the direction of Rene Valdez who was an All-Star firstbaseman and NJCAA Regional Tournament MVP for Sauk valley in 2000.
That mixture should bode well for McCamment.
“We’re looking for McCamment to play first base and to hit for power,” Valdez indicated. “We will can also use him at one of the corner outfield positions and as a designated hitter.”
The Skyhawks noted his earlier pitching promise and potentially could use him on the mound if the rehabilitation from high school injuries continues.
During his career at Greensburg, a promising pitching career ended after his freshman season when he injured his right elbow. After playing just four games his sophomore year, McCamment underwent Tommy John surgery to repair damage to ligaments in his elbow.
This surgery, which was pioneered when doctors performed a similar surgery to resurrect the career of Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tommy John prior to the surgery, the damage that was repaired was considered a career-ending injury. John returned and played several more years including All-Star appearances.
After his junior year, McCamment again underwent surgery to repair damage to his shoulder. His rehabilitation from that surgery was cut short to permit McCamment to be a key member of this year’s final four baseball team at Greensburg.
His father, Larry McCamment, was one of his earliest coaches and has been one of his strongest supporters.
“After surgery during his sophomore season and again after his junior season, many scouts were scared off by his surgeries. After his team went to the final four, some of them gave him another look.”
Another draw back was a less than stellar scholastic career in high school.
“It shows that you need to get your grades all through school,” Larry said. “Kids need to know that that you can’t just turn it on the final year. You have to do it all along.”
Consequently the University of Indianapolis took an interest in him but was unable to provide am enrollment spot. Instead he was recommended to Sauk Valley who found a player that it and its coaching staff feels is a good fit for the Skyhawks. The young McCamment noted that he planned on attending Sauk Valley for a few years before heading off to a bigger school.
“I was ready to get signed,” he said.
During his career at Greensburg High School, he was a leader on a very strong team.
“He played a very good first base defensively and hit with power for us,” Pirates baseball coach Scott Moore said.
This is born out by his senior year statistics. He had 36 hits, 11 walks, was hit twice and drove in a run on a sacrifice fly in 114 times at bat. His batting average was .360 and he had 10 doubles, two triples and nine home runs among his 36 hits. He scored 25 times and drove in 38 runners to account for 54 runs (runs scored plus runs batted in less home runs).
Defensively he registered five assists and made 157 putouts while committing just two errors for .988 fielding percentage.
Because of his season, he earned his second All-Conference nod.
Wednesday he took the first step in furthering his career by joining the Skyhawks.

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