Arizona Diamondbacks say "Let's play ball!"

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Ryan DeCamp
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  The Major League Baseball season may have just ended, but that didn't stop one MLB team from showing their appreciation for the military and their families.

The Arizona Diamondbacks held a free baseball clinic Nov. 5 sponsored by the 56th Force Support Squadron Youth Center at Mark Grace Thunderbolt Field. More than 115 children between the ages of 4 and 16 attended the event with their families'.

"The biggest thing for us is serving the military families who serve us," said Jeff Rodin, Arizona Diamondbacks Baseball Outreach and Development director. "I'm not in the military, but for the kids to embrace us as one of their own and look up to us is great, when really, their parents are the heroes."

The event started with Baxter, the team's mascot, pumping up the crowd, followed by an opening ceremony. The children and their parents then broke up by age bracket and moved from station to station working on the fundamentals of hitting, pitching, fly balls and groundballs.

More than 10 Diamondback youth coaches instructed during the clinic, including Rodin.

"We're just out here showing them how to hold a ball and swing a bat," he said. "Being able to serve those that serve us is just an incredible feeling."

The children who attended the event enjoyed hitting on the same field with their big-league counterparts.

"It's really fun because it's not something you get to do every day," said Brendan McKelvy, 13.

The clinc's drills included the parents too.

"One thing that was fun was in addition to watching the kids do their thing, they encouraged the parents to get involved," said Maj. Shawn McKelvy, 56th Fighter Wing Staff Judge Advocate deputy chief and Brendan's father. "It was great to be able to go out there with the kids and enjoy the time with them."

For more information on the youth center and events offered, visit the youth programs Website at http://www.lukeevents.com/youth or call (623) 856-7470.