Twins partnership brings summer of sports to nearly 7,000 kids

Another summer of free baseball and softball clinics is in the books and thousands of young athletes across Twins Territory were able to get in the game.

Nearly 7,000 kids attended the Twins Community Fund Youth Baseball & Softball Clinics during the 2026 season, continuing a longtime tradition of bringing accessible youth sports programming to communities through a partnership with Great River Energy.

This summer, the clinics visited 56 communities across Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota and South Dakota, traveling more than 10,000 miles along the way. A team of 45 clinicians donning Twins uniforms provided guided instruction in baseball and softball fundamentals while creating a fun, encouraging experience for kids of all skill levels.

Several Great River Energy member-owner cooperatives helped bring clinics to their local communities this summer, hosting events in Bigfork, Arlington, Park Rapids, Frazee, Farmington, Sleepy Eye and Cook.

The clinics have been a staple of Twins Territory for more than 60 years, but the program has grown significantly in recent years.

“We’ve grown his program from around 15 clinics before the COVID-19 pandemic to what it is now where we’re operating at absolute maximum capacity based on our resources,” said Chelsey Falzone, manager of youth engagement for the Minnesota Twins.

Falzone said the growth also reflects a continuing need.

“Providing free programming for kids is one of the most important things any organization can do,” she said. “In a world where most families are being priced out of sports … this program is critical.”

For Great River Energy, supporting the clinics is also an extension of the cooperative principle of concern for community. Together with its 26 member-owner cooperatives, Great River Energy works to support the communities it serves and create opportunities for neighbors to gather and connect.

Over the course of the summer, that meant thousands of kids picking up a glove, trying something new and experiencing the fun of playing ball.