Mets battery visits Hillel Day Camp

The second through eighth grade boys at Hillel Day Camp in Lawrence practiced their swings and boned up on their baseball knowledge as New York Mets pitcher Logan Verrett and batterymate, catcher Travis d’Arnaud, visited with the campers for about two hours on Aug. 8.

Camp Director Ari Solomon said nearly 400 campers met the Mets players, who pitched a few balls to every camper and then took the time to autograph a photograph for them.

Solomon said those two players in particular were selected to visit the camp because they were the pitcher and catcher that played together in the first game of the Subway Series this season on Aug. 1, when the Mets and Yankees faced off in their annual rivalry games. The two New York teams split four games this year.

Before pitching, Verrett answered the campers’ questions that ranged from how long he has been on the Mets – since 2011 – to who invented the sport of baseball – Abner Doubleday (the mythical lore says). “I worked really hard and now I get to do it everyday,” Verrett said to his first group of boys.

Matthew, an 8-year-old camper, said getting an autograph and having Verrett pitch to him was the best part of his day.

“It’s just all about having fun and getting them involved in the sport,” Verrett said, of what the most important thing is to emphasize with young boys and aspiring baseball players.

Asher, a 7-year-old Mets fan, learned that despite d’Arnaud’s professional position as catcher, “he is a good pitcher.” Asher won $10 from the Mets player after hitting the ball the furthest out of everyone in his group.