On July 23, Winslow’s Little League Field became a field of dreams as 35 local kids attended the Arizona Public Service (APS) All-Star Clinic. Developed by APS Community Development consultant and former Major League Baseball (MLB) Player Ken Phelps, the clinic is designed to help kids learn the fundamentals of baseball while teaching life lessons.
With the help of three other retired MLB players, Bob Lacey, Lou Klimchock and Leon Brown, the kids spent two-and-a-half hours learning batting, throwing, running, as well as infield and outfield drills.
“Baseball is game of failure where you have to learn to pick yourself up and keep moving,” shared Phelps. It was a game he played for 11 years with teams that included the Kansas City Royals, the Montreal Expos, the Seattle Mariners, the New York Yankees, the Oakland As and the Cleveland Indians.
Nearly 20 years ago, Phelps, who worked with APS at the time, sold APS on the idea of the clinics as part of a community outreach. “I can remember when I was a kid, I never got to go to a free clinic that was run by professional baseball players,” said Phelps, who wants the kids to understand not just the principals of baseball but the life skills that can be learned in the sport.
“A great hitter fails 70 percent of the time,” continued Phelps, “but the failure doesn’t stop him. During the clinic we talk about the importance of being a good student and how to deal with failure and the ups and downs of life.”
The clinic ended with pizza, t-shirts and autographed balls.
Last month Holbrook hosted the same clinic at Barrow’s Field with 34 kids signed up to learn from retired MLB Players Ken Phelps, Bob Lacey and Kevin Kobel.
Holbrook’s Little League President Mark Oberitter said that it is a great program. “We were lucky to get it again.” Oberitter gave a big thank you to Janet Dean, Community Affairs Manager Northeast Division, for her help in bringing the program to both cities.
As Phelps noted, “We do the clinics all over the southwest wherever APS provides power. APS has been gracious in funding what we do. I get to do the fun part, but they make it happen.”
