Brewers host Play Ball Weekend youth clinic at Baran Park

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Milwaukee Brewers hosted its annual Play Ball Weekend clinic for local kids on Saturday, June 15.

Nearly a thousand kids showed up to Baran Park on the city's southside to take part in baseball and softball activities.

"It's just great to be able to come out and just hear kids cheering and see how excited they are about being around the game and the players and getting gifts. It's just a fun day," said Cecelia Gore, Brewers Community Foundation Executive Director.

The racing sausages made an appearance and local leaders also showed up to help kick off the occasion.

"I know that this is not only an event that many of the young people get to enjoy but an event that many of the adults get to enjoy as well," said David Crowley, Milwaukee County Executive.

The MLB's Play Ball Initiative has become a popular annual event for youth engagement in the sport, and a fun event for kids to meet other athletes and spend some time perfecting basic techniques.

"This is really, really a great opportunity for our kids in this community, for their physical health, for their mental health. Kids in our community deserve to have opportunities like this," said Mayor Cavalier Johnson.

Kids were split up into groups and sent to different areas of the park to work on specific skills and some familiar faces were there for the fun,  too.

Brewers Pitcher Brandon Woodruff made his first Play Ball Weekend appearance. "I didn't realize what a big deal it is. There's a lot of kids here and it's great to be able to see them get to know the game," he said.

Blake Perkins echoed that sentiment, saying the day reminded him of when he was a young player. "Just seeing the faces....it brings me back to when I was young and people invested their time into me and it's just special being able to be here," he said.

Organizers say the day was a success with perfect weather to match.

The event was free for local families.