OBU Baseball Host Their First Ever Playball Clinic

The Rookie League Foundation of Oklahoma started a busy October with Play Ball Shawnee on October 5. The camp was hosted at Bobby Cox Field at Ford Park by Oklahoma Baptist University. The Play Ball Clinic is an MLB initiative designed to introduce the next generation of children to bat and ball sports. Nearly 100 kids attend the free clinic held by OBU Baseball.

The Bison Head Coach Chris Cox was glad his program was able to make a lasting impact within their community.

“So thankful for the opportunity to be a part of the camp this past Saturday,” Cox said. “It’s always great when our guys have an opportunity to give to give back and interact with the youth in our community,” Cox said.

Oklahoma Baptist players and Foundation staff prepared for Playball Shawnee early in the morning and played a game of 2-ball to get warmed up. Within the first 30 minutes of setting up, the kids arrived early and eager to learn and play with members of the OBU Bison baseball team. During registration, the kids met their team captains and were sorted into groups based on age. After warmup activities such as stretching, playing frisbee and getting to know everyone in their age group, the age captains led kids to their stations.

The stations involved at the camp were Agility, Groundballs, Hitting, Flyballs, and Base Running. Each age group started off at different stations and would rotate throughout the camp. Players of the OBU Baseball team that volunteered as station leaders had the responsibility of coaching the kids through the station they watched over. The main goal for them was to make sure everyone got to participate in the drill and do so safely. Players that volunteered as age captains followed their group of kids to each station, acting as coaches for the kids.

Near the end of the camp, after every age group participated in all the stations, three games of wiffleball were played. Each of the games consisted of two teams based on age group going head-to-head with their coaches and station leaders acting as Umpires. The three games would happen simultaneously and only end when every kid got the chance to hit on offense.

After the games have ended, everyone gets together for a couple of group photos. Shortly thereafter, all volunteers passed out the following gifts to the children from the Foundations partners: Books provided by Youth First, a Franklin bat and ball sets, Mouth guard provided by Delta Dental, and Hats from the OKC Baseball Club.

Playball Shawnee’s success can be seen in various aspects other than the number of kids in attendance, it’s also felt by the impact of relationships being built in the community, according to Rookie League Program Coordinator Kalen Haynes

“Without partners, we wouldn’t be able to serve our mission,” Haynes said. “It’s about creating an impact for the kids and the parents that makes things better,” Haynes said.

The Rookie League Foundation hopes to continue building relationships across Oklahoma with other Playball Clinics and events in 2024 and beyond.