Phantasy Camp Draws an International Flair

By Eddie Michels on January 19, 2013

Mark Lange (Eddie Michels photo)

CLEARWATER, Fla. –Calgary resident Mark Lange paid $5000.00 (US) plus airfare to spend four days playing baseball at the Phillies Phantasy Camp at the Phillies Carpenter Complex. Shown flying out to right Lange said of being a Phillies fan, “Its been my team since 1978 through a lot of good times and bad.” As to why he isn’t a Blue Jays fan, “I lived in Edmonton at the time and all we got was (Seattle) Mariners games so I picked the Phillies.” Lange and 130 other Phantasy Campers will end their stay in camp on Sunday when each team plays a three inning game against the former Phillies players.

CLEARWATER, Fl.–Canadian hurler Rheal Cormier lightens things up a bit between innings during the Phillies Phantasy Camp at the Carpenter Complex in Clearwater Friday January 18, 2013. (EDDIE MICHELS/PHOTO)

If not for frequent flyer points his airfare would have cost Darren Llewellyn more that the $5000.00 (US) he spent to participate in the Philadelphia Phillies Phantasy Camp at the team’s minor league complex. Llewellyn, a native of Sydney, Australia who now resides in Singapore, on Friday January 18, 2013 threw a complete shutout scattering nine hits for his squad managed by Jim Eisenreich. “He was awesome,” said Eisenreich, “He did it all and also at the plate too.” Llewellyn was 2-3 at the plate with an RBI. “I play in a baseball league in Singapore, we have teams made up of Japanese, Koreans and I play on the UN team.”

Darren Llewellyn (Eddie Michels photos)

At Phantasy Camps sometimes the pitchers lack a bit of control as Mark Lange of Calgery Alb. avoids a ball thrown behind him on Friday January 18, 2013 at the Phillies Carpenter Complex. (EDDIE MICHELS/PHOTO)

Craig McQuillen of Sydney, Australia takes grounders at third backing up his mate Darren Llewellyn on the mound during the Philadelphia Phillies Phantasy Camp at the team’s minor league Complex in Clearwater. To conclude the camp Sunday each one of the teams the 130-plus campers are split up into will play a three-inning game against the former Phillies players at Bright House Field. (EDDIE MICHELS/PHOTO)