Another successful clinic in the books! Today, Way To Play brought together around 20 young athletes, ages 7–12, for a baseball and softball clinic filled with learning, practice, and plenty of fun. Participants had the opportunity to build their skills alongside Thacher student-athletes while enjoying time on the field together.

Photo taken by William Green (’27) – Cael Parker (’27) instructs players on how to grip the baseball for maximum velocity

Henry Preloger (’27), Cael Parker (’27), and Abel Janes (’27), captains of The Thacher School’s varsity baseball team, led the volunteers throughout the clinic. With support from fellow volunteers, including Maasai, Moose, and Max, they shared their experience and enthusiasm to help participants develop their fundamentals and feel more confident in their abilities.

When asked about the most memorable thing that happened at the event, Henry Preloger (’27), a Pomona College Recruit, had this to say: “Working with Brodie really stood out to me. He told us he was struggling to make consistent contact, so we worked on adjusting his batting stance and focusing on connecting with the ball instead of trying to hit it as hard as possible. I was really impressed with how he took that feedback and put it into practice. By the end of the clinic, he was making more consistent contact. Getting to help him work through something he’d been struggling with was one of the most rewarding parts of the day.”

Photo taken by William Green (’27) – Cael Parker (’27) works with the athletes on throwing accuracy and optimizing velocity

The clinic focused on fielding, throwing velocity training, and batting. Young athletes practiced making clean plays in the field and worked on their throwing before stepping up to the plate. During batting practice, volunteers emphasized making consistent contact with the barrel of the bat, helping participants understand how small adjustments could improve their swings.

Beyond the drills, the clinic was an opportunity to connect through a shared love of sports. Learning from older student-athletes is central to Way To Play’s mission: giving young people a welcoming place to try, improve, and have fun. Thank you to our volunteers, participants, and families for making this clinic possible!

Stay tuned for an upcoming fundraising event to help provide sports equipment for local elementary schools!