Twins host Free Youth Clinics in Southwest Florida

The Minnesota Twins Community Fund will host nine free Minnesota Twins Youth Clinics from Jan. 12 through Feb. 16, 2008, in Southwest Florida. The Minnesota Twins Youth Clinics, presented by the Lee County Parks and Recreation and the Minnesota Twins Community Fund, give youth from throughout Southwest Florida the opportunity to learn the games of baseball and softball.

The two-hour clinics require no registration and are open to boys and girls ages 5 to 16. Twins clinicians will teach hitting, fielding, and throwing at each clinic. Parents are encouraged to participate with their sons or daughters in the sessions.

The Minnesota Twins have held Spring Training at the Lee County Sports Complex in Fort Myers since 1991. In addition, the Fort Myers Miracle, a Twins Class A affiliate, plays at the Lee County Complex.

The Minnesota Twins Community Fund is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to enrich local and regional communities by providing resources for the healthy development of children and families through an association with baseball, softball and the Minnesota Twins. The Minnesota Twins and the Minnesota Twins Community Fund annually distribute more than $3.6 million in community support.

The Youth Clinic Program was created in 1961 by longtime Twins scout Angelo Giuliani. Since that time, more than 850,000 youth have participated in a Minnesota Twins Youth Clinic.

Minnesota Twins 2008 Southwest Florida Youth Clinics Schedule
(Subject to change)

Jan. 12	10 a.m. to 12 p.m.	Minnesota Twins/Lee County Sports Complex 14100 Six Mile Cypress Parkway Fort Myers, FL 33912 Jack Nelson -- 239-292-5240
Jan. 19	10 a.m. to 12 p.m.	Buckingham Little League 9800 Buckingham Road Fort Myers, FL 33905 Pat Shannahan - 239-936-8561
	1 p.m. to 3 p.m.	Lehigh Little League 1400 West 5th Street Lehigh Acres, FL 33972 Darrel Willis - 239-823-6126
Jan. 26	10 a.m. to 12 p.m.	Cape Coral Little League / Pelican Complex 4128 Pelican Boulevard Cape Coral, FL 33914 Art Avellino - 239-772-423
Feb. 2	10 a.m. to 12 p.m	DeSoto Little League Speer Recreation Center 185 West Winifred Street Arcadia, FL 34266 Tara and Matt Anderson - 863-990-0529
	1 p.m. to 3 p.m.	Charlotte County Little League Harold Ave Recreation Center Port Charlotte, FL 23400 Lou Augsto - 941-629-6552 or 941-629-0114
Feb. 9	10 a.m. to 12 p.m.	San Carlos Little League 18215 Three Oaks Parkway Three Oaks Park Fort Myers, FL 33912 Todd Backster - 239-989-5868
	1 p.m. to 3 p.m.	Immokalee Little League Tony Rosdough Little League Field Immokalee, FL 34142 Jack Nelson - 239-292-5240
Feb. 16	10 a.m. to 12 p.m.	South Fort Myers Little League/Rutenberg Complex 6500 S. Pointe Blvd Fort Myers, FL 34142 Jack Nelson - 239-292-5240

All questions, concerns or information regarding the clinics should be directed to the Twins Community Fund staff:

Stephanie Johnson
Twins Community Fund
34 Kirby Puckett Place
Minneapolis, MN 55415
Direct: 612-375-7523
Fax: 612-475-7480
stephaniejohnson@twinsbaseball.com

Under Construction

The baseball use of the dutch word "berm", that is, a grassy hill on from which you can watch a baseball game, isn't found in wikipedia or other online resources.



Considering the one at William H. Hammond stadium doesn't look very grassy, perhaps it's a good thing. However, my cat would think that's one HECK of a sandbox they're building there.



The back of the berm, which still has a ways to go. There also will be new deck seats behind the berm. No work, that I could see, on the relocation of the visitors bullpen.



The new first two rows will hold the dug out seating, which isn't in place yet. The dugout box seats will be available to season-ticket holders with priority given to fans who have owned season tickets the longest.



There will be a new net, which includes a tighter weave, making it easier to see through. However, the new net will not have a backdrop, so sitting behing the netting will not protect you from foul balls that might get up over the netting.

Some discussion with the Miracle staff that the old timers are going to like that. They sit behind, or under, the netting to be protected because they're not fast enough to get out of the way of balls that might be coming towards them.



You can see where this extends "the pit" seating out a bit. The county is spending just less than $2.1 million for the new seating and other ballpark improvements. There will be around 400 new seats at Hammond Stadium.



The roof is off the stadium and in the parking lot.



Evidently, there was a small accident in which a portion of the roof fell on the dugout of the adjacent practice field and also caused damage to the bleachers. More things to fix before spring training opens.



A long line for single game tickets.



Dick Mingo teaches pitching at the Twins youth clinic. Mingo coached high school baseball for 33 years following his professional career.



Twins 1st rounder and pitching prospect Kyle Walrop (left) was one of the minor league players helping out at the clinic.



T.C. Bear was also helping out - to the delight of the youngsters.