JBER youth knock off rust at sports clinic

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jeremy Larlee
  • JBER PAO
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  The snow hasn't quite melted outside yet, but Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson youth have an opportunity to dust off their baseball and softball gloves during clinics every Saturday at the Kennecott Youth Center.

The clinics are free and open to children from 5 to 14 years old.

Paul Caron, Kennecott Youth Center sports director, said this is the second year for the clinics and he feels they were extremely beneficial to improving the skills of participants last year.

"This is a great way to knock the rust off the kids and get them prepared for the season," Caron said. "Getting them in the mindset early will really raise the level of play during the season."

There were multiple stations set up in the youth center gym for the clinic to help the youth work on the different facets of their baseball and softball game.

Among the new additions this year were a pitching mound and a batting cage. There were also drills to work on fielding and base running and sliding.

Air Force Master Sgt. John Pruitt, 673d Civil Engineer Group, brought his 10-year-old sons Ostyn and Anthony to the clinic.

"The boys were real excited about coming here today," he said. "It is great that this is available to get them in the mindset and to hone their baseball skills."

Ostyn Pruitt said his favorite part of the clinic was pitching off the new artificial pitching mound.

"This was a lot of fun and everybody should do it," he said.

Caron said the clinic was part of the youth sports program's increased focus on baseball and softball.

He said joint basing has really strengthened the little league organization on base. JBER now boasts the third largest league in the greater Anchorage area.

"It allows us to have more teams and venues to play at, he said. "It allows us to better balance the teams."

Caron said he really enjoys hosting the clinic and he likes seeing the youth develop their skills.

"I just have a blast teaching these kids," he said. "It's great to see them learn about baseball and softball."