Oneonta Outlaws Host Adaptive Baseball Clinic on Damaschke Field

Last week, the Oneonta Outlaws baseball team hosted an adaptive baseball clinic for Oneonta-area youth.  Seventeen children and young adults paired up with members of the Oneonta Outlaws to practice skills and play ball on Damaschke Field in Oneonta, NY.  “It’s a great day for playing baseball,” said General Manager Joe Hughes as he introduced the members of the Outlaws.  Under a beautiful July sky, athletes lined up to practice throwing and catching with a buddy.  After half an hour of skill work, they moved on to the scrimmage match.
 
Everyone was excited to get up to bat, perhaps nobody more-so than Andrew.  He arrived for the clinic in his Boston Redsox uniform; he had been looking forward to this program for months. Andrew gladly stepped up to the plate during the scrimmage and showed off his swing.  Rhonda shocked all of the Outlaws players with her batting skills.  She didn't swing hard at the first pitches, but behind her big smile, she was concentrating.  After two strikes, she bunted and ran to first.  Her team mates hit her home.
 
Throughout the clinic, EDD athletes and the Outlaws players shared stories and joked with each other.  EDD athlete Chris loves to challenge the volunteers, and he asked two of the Outlaws players to race him around the bases.  They accepted the challenge, and Chris led the pack all the way around the field.  These social interactions are part of what makes this program unique. 

Thank you to Joe Hughes, Atlee Pearson and the Oneonta Outlaws for leading a great program! 

---