Wilbert Ellis Baseball Camp makes its return to Ruston this month

After a two-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Wilbert Ellis Baseball Camp is returning to Ruston on July 30 at Frazier Field.

Ellis is a legendary former head coach of Grambling State baseball, who compiled a career record of 737-463-1 with the Tigers while guiding them to three SWAC championships in the process.

The camp will feature such instructors as Ralph Garr, who played for GSU and the Atlanta Braves and is enshrined in the Braves Hall of Fame, Hank Aaron Jr. and other former professional baseball players like John Lewis, Ronnie Lewis, George Stone, Bobby Dupree, Gary Eave, and Ira Tuell.

Ellis says there are a lot of instructors coming to the camp who played for him at Grambling.

This is the 11th year that Ellis has hosted the camp, and he’s done it for so long because he wants to give back to the community. He said people gave to him, and that is his motivation for holding something like this.

“I was there teaching kids baseball even when I was younger,” said Ellis. “I believe in giving them the basic fundamentals of the game of baseball and using that for the game of life and teaching them life skills. I’ve always wanted to give back to the kids and the community and develop life skills for them to develop them to be good people, do the right thing, be in school, and get an education.

“What I have done throughout the years is plan activities for them and for the youth of America because I do it here in Ruston and Omaha just so they can have an enjoyable time and come and learn from some of the best people who have played the game of baseball but have developed into good people and have great life skills,” he continued.

A session called “Just for Parents” will also be held at the camp where parents are invited to come.

Ellis says Lincoln Parish District Attorney John Belton will be speaking about the things he does and how he helps the community. Lincoln Parish Sheriff Stephen Williams will also be in attendance.

Someone from the school system will be talking at the camp and maybe a principal, according to Ellis. Kids from Farmerville, El Dorado, Arkansas, Monroe, and Shreveport will be making the trek to learn the game from Ellis and his crew.

Giving back isn’t the only thing Ellis wants to do. To him, this camp serves another huge purpose, which is to make this place a better place to live in.

“A lot of these kids are under-privileged kids that need some guidance and come from single parents and all of that, so we want to do what we can and help our community and make things a safer place and a better place,” he said.

Registration for the camp will be held from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. on July 30, with instruction and teaching to follow from 9 a.m. to noon. Lunch will be provided.

All campers will also receive a T-shirt. The camp is for both boys and girls.

Pre-registration is now open. See Ronnie Lyons at the Ruston Housing Authority Maintenance Office to do so. You can also call 318-957-4741 or email WEllisFreeBBCamp@ yahoo.com.

Frazier Field is located at 1701 Martin Luther King Drive in Ruston.