Playball! Minnesota Youth Clinic and fundraiser was a grand slam for Wadena baseball (UPDATED)

Nearly 150 youth participated in the Playball! Minnesota Twins Youth Clinic held at the Wadena Little League field on Saturday morning.

The clinic was an opportunity for area youth to enhance their baseball and softball skills, while also hearing positive messages about staying in school and away from drugs and alcohol.

The Playball! Clinic was to have been held last summer, but the June 17 tornado wiped out the Wadena Area Youth Little League field a week before the event. The Minnesota Twins Community Fund, which funds and administered the clinic, agreed to put everything on hold until the field was rebuilt this year.

“It couldn’t have turned out better, as we worked hard to rebuild the field,” said Wadena-Deer Creek Baseball director Kyle Dykhoff. “We put plenty of man hours and had countless volunteers contribute towards rebuilding this beautiful field. I couldn’t be happier with the result and turnout. I think everyone had fun.”

The field, renamed Freer Field, featured a new scoreboard, nearly completed dugouts with new sod and chain link fence surrounding the field.

On Saturday, Minnesota Twins instructors Dick Mingo, Julio Becquer and Tom Sauer made the trek to Wadena to administer the clinic to the large number of eager boys and girls.

Mingo, who was in his 22nd year of providing instruction, started each two 90-minute sessions with a pep talk about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse as well about staying in school. Then each session was divided up in groups of three to focus on hitting, fielding and throwing.

Becquer, who played professional baseball for the Twins, Dodgers and Senators, taught the fundamentals of hitting to his groups. The former Major League first baseman was impressed with the willness of his charges to improve their game.

“Young ball players are always fun to teach,” he said. “They respond to instruction real well, and I guess it doesn’t hurt to have a former big league ball player give them pointers. They think its cool and they always want to impress you.”

Sauer, who played collegiate baseball and football for St. Cloud State and minor league ball with the St. Louis Cardinals, took over the fielding group and taught the fundamentals of fielding catches and nabbing grounders. Mingo taught his group throwing, and gave pointers on pitching and the different types of pitches.

Dykhoff and the Wadena-Deer Creek baseball team provided additional help when needed by either tossing wiffle balls to the hitters or retrieving stray balls scattering all over the field.

After each session, all three instructors gave another short pep talk and dismissed the group, with each participant receiving a grab bag of goodies from volunteers lined up in the home dugout.

While the youth were on the field getting instruction , parents and curious bystanders were busy looking over the silent auction and tent sale set up along the third base fence. The Matt Jones family brought their food concession trailer, adaptly named ‘Twisted Treats’, to feed the hungry crowd.

There were over 30 items donated to the silent auction, which featured autographed Minnesota Twins items along with bobblehead sets, Minnesota Wild and Gophers items and gift baskets. The tent sale had everything at a discounted price for the sports fan, including Twins t-shirts and bobbleheads. There were plenty of Minnesota Wild items, as well as Gopher practice jerseys and t-shirts.

Ron Laughlin, who coordinated the fundraiser, was very pleased on how smoothly the fundraiser went, as 100 percent of the proceeds will go back to the Wadena-Deer Creek baseball program.

“It was amazing,” he said. “I’m impressed, especially with the large numbers that came out to support the baseball program. I would like to thank all the volunteers and people that spent a beautiful Saturday morning helping us out and making this a fun day for everyone involved.”

According to Laughlin, the amount raised was $5,106.20 with the silent auction grossing $3,006 alone.

“Three grand on the silent auction is simply just wonderful,” he said.

The silent auction winners list can be viewed below.

After everything was done and packed away, Dykhoff spent a moment to reflect on the days events.

“All in all, I think it was a great day,” he said. “It was a lot of work, but it was worth it. I think the kids got some great tips and pointers from the Twins’ instructors, and overall, I think they got even more excited about playing ball this summer.”

Dykhoff said that everyone played a important part in the success of the event, and the Wadena-Deer Creek Baseball organization appreciates all those who volunteered their time and efforts in making the day go smoothly.

“Everyone, from the Minnesota Twins to all the volunteers and youth that participated either in the clinic and fundraisers deserve a pat on the back,” he said. “Thanks to all involved that made this a day to remember.”

More Playball! Clinic photos will be posted to the gallery later.

Wadena Area Youth Baseball Silent Auction Winners