The free baseball and softball clinics held at Mulberry Recreation Center this week were a success.
Nearly 70 boys attended the baseball clinic taught by Appalachian State University coaches and players, and about a dozen girls attended the softball clinic taught by Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute coaches and players this week. The Parks and Recreation Department hosted both clinics.
"We had a really great turnout for the baseball clinic and a good showing for the softball clinic," Athletic Director and Parks Manager Katelin Cooke said. “All the kids attending the clinic seemed to have a blast working on skills and interacting with the college players and coaches."
The baseball clinic was held Wednesday, Sept. 29, at the Mulberry Recreation fields and the softball clinic was Thursday, Sept. 30, at the Optimist Park fields across from Mulberry Rec.
Cooke said Parks & Recreation staff hope the clinics become annual events.
"We would like to thank both App State’s Baseball Team and CCC&TI’s Softball Team for partnering with us to make these clinics available to our community," Cooke said. "We hope to have them back in the future."
The City Parks & Recreation Department offers baseball, softball, basketball, and wrestling for youth. The Lenoir Youth Soccer Association (LYSA) offers recreational, academy, travel soccer, camps, and other programs. For more information on the programs, visit the Athletics page.

Boys practice throwing at the free baseball clinic.

Girls warm up at the free softball clinic.

App State Coach Kermit Smith talks to the boys attending the baseball clinic.

CCC&TI Coach Scott Triplett talks to the girls attending the softball clinic.

Boy practice catching ground balls.

Girls practice catching ground balls.

Group picture of the coaches, players, and kids at the free App State Baseball Clinic.

Group picture of the coaches, players, and girls at the free CCC&TI softball clinic.