It appears that this year’s professional baseball season soon will begin, but yet to be determined is when and how it will end. Cancellation of sports on all levels has devastated our amateur programs, too. Even the clinics that teach the game to the youngest of fans have been affected by the COVID-19 crisis.

In Westchester County, the Baseball United Foundation engages young boys and girls in the game. Director John Fitzgerald believes that capturing the interest of children when they are five or six years old is more critical today than for previous generations as baseball now competes with so many other action-filled options.

John leads the Small Ball Indoor Baseball Clinic for Beginners. Each group consists of about a dozen children that meet at an elementary school gymnasium. They learn the basic skills of throwing, fielding, hitting and baserunning, and John knows how to ensure that learning is fun.

The kids at the clinic do not stand around until it is their turn to step into the batter’s box – they hit with whiffle balls and plastic bats. Instead, John’s emphasis is to keep them engaged in the action. Small groups work on skillsets while plenty of running during the hourlong sessions keeps each child interested, excited and laughing. The children hit off a tee, swing at soft toss pitching and learn proper throwing and fielding techniques. John usually ends each session with a quick game of kickball.

Among John’s coaches are several young players from the Briarcliff High School team, allowing these budding players to obtain coaching skills as they teach the game to children.

Let’s hope John soon will be able to resume these clinics. If you know anyone with young children in Westchester, tell them about the foundation –https://baseballunitedfoundation.org/small-ball/ Don’t forget to ask how to organize similar clinics in the city and on Long Island.

Chelsea Werner is a gymnast from Danville, California. She also has entered the modeling world to showcase her unique perfection.

Chelsea was just a four-year-old when gymnastics came into her life as a way to strengthen her muscles. As a gymnast, Chelsea has earned national and international accolades for her routines. She became a champion and, according to Chelsea, gymnastics has taught her new skills and infused her with confidence.

Chelsea needed that confidence and family support in the modeling arena. She faced rejections, because a market did not exist for someone as unique as Chelsea. But, she persisted, and her family never gave up on her.

Patience and perseverance paid dividends. Chelsea was discovered through social media by We Speak, an agency that operates with the motive of promoting body positivity and inclusion in the modeling world. We Speak’s founder saw Chelsea’s bubbly optimistic energy in a viral video, and she immediately decided that Chelsea had the potential to succeed in the fashion world.

Since her first photoshoot, Chelsea has emerged as a global sensation. She can accept all kinds of feedback and she learns quickly about the steps required to succeed. According to many in the business, Chelsea has a bright future as a model.

Now, a little more about Chelsea. Her success in gymnastics came in the Special Olympics United States National Championships (four-time champion) and the World Championships (two-time champion). Chelsea has Down Syndrome.

Chelsea’s path to success in gymnastics and modeling has provided hope to parents with children diagnosed with Down Syndrome. She has shown that nothing can or should stop any person from pursuing interests, fulfilling dreams and achieving success.

Chelsea has proven that each of us is beautiful in our own way.