‘It makes kids in rural America feel seen’

Free youth baseball, softball clinics connect Twins club with Greater Minnesota

Another summer tradition of bringing free baseball and softball clinics to local ballfields across Minnesota Twins Territory and Great River Energy’s service area is in the books.

More than 7,000 youth ages 6 to 12 picked up pointers on how to pitch, hit and throw from certified Twins clinicians without having to leave their hometown, thanks in part to Great River Energy’s support.

For more than 60 years, the Twins Community Fund Baseball and Softball Clinics have provided this free opportunity for kids to learn — or hone — skills from experienced and knowledgeable coaches in an encouraging environment.

And for over 25 of those years, Great River Energy has held the title of presenting partner, using this connection as a way to bring a Twins experience to the rural communities served by its member-owner cooperatives.

This year, more than 55 communities were visited across five states with Twins clinicians clocking more than 220 hours and 10,500 miles on the road. Several of Great River Energy’s member-owner cooperatives hosted clinics on their local ballfields, including Glencoe-based McLeod Cooperative Power.

The cooperative welcomed 80 children — including one whose family drove 100 miles roundtrip to attend — to its amateur team’s diamond in Arlington. The clinic was in the evening for the first time, concession stands were open and the kids got to play under stadium lights with family and friends spectating from the bleachers. Each participant left with a baseball emblazoned with their local electric cooperative’s logo.

“Our clinic program is always stronger when we partner with local electric co-ops,” said Chelsey Falzone, the Twins’ manager of youth engagement. “They don’t just sponsor the program by putting their name on it, but instead they rally their entire community to make it a celebration. The clinics with a co-op partner always feel different and more vibrant. That spirit of showing up for kids is exactly what the Twins Community Fund is all about, and it’s why these clinics become such memorable experiences for young ballplayers.”

Lake Region Electric Cooperative (LREC), which hosted 75 youth at the community high school’s field about 150 miles away from the Twins’ Minneapolis stadium, finds value in hosting the event both for itself and those who attend.

“It’s a great way for us to partner with Great River Energy; it’s cooperation among cooperatives,” said Dylan Aafedt, vice president of business solutions at LREC. “And we’re trying to bring the local co-op to our members where we’re at. That our major league baseball team is willing to send people up from roughly three hours away to coach kids in rural Minnesota … It makes kids in rural America feel seen.”