Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 10/12/2021
EASTHAMPTON – Easthampton is collaborating with the Worcester Red Sox – or WooSox – front office staff to conduct baseball and softball clinics for the city’s youth. The WooSox are the Triple-A affiliate baseball team of the Boston Red Sox.
The WooSox staff will run “fall ball” clinics throughout the day on Oct. 16 from 10 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. for any Easthampton youth between 8 and 17 years of age at Nonotuck Park.
Mayor Nicole LaChapelle asked City Councilor Homar Gomez to organize the clinics, which will all occur on four different fields. According Gomez, who is also the Easthampton High School softball coach, LaChapelle was able to jumpstart the relationship between Gomez and the WooSox organization to get these clinics going.
“My priority in Easthampton is the youth, and to find ways to keep them busy in a positive way,” said Gomez. “And that’s the goal when we’re bringing the WooSox to our city.”
On the day of the clinics, LaChapelle will officially welcome WooSox staff to the city, and then players will split into teams and groups onto the four different fields for the clinic. Children will learn on-field skills throughout the clinic, as well as behind-the-scenes front office information regarding baseball teams.
As someone who has been coaching in some capacity for over a decade, Gomez said that it was important to create this clinic to connect the Easthampton Little League with the high school. “I love being the coach, and I love to teach kids,” said Gomez. “My goal as a coach is not just teaching you how to play, but also how to do better in life and to not quit.”
According to Gomez, the WooSox clinics will hopefully be another opportunity for children and high school students to absorb as much as possible.
“It’s not just to play a sport,” said Gomez, regarding the importance of the clinics. “But it’s the stuff you learn in sports that go beyond sports, and I think that is the key behind all of this.”
Gomez and the WooSox organization are planning to maintain their relationship beyond the clinics on Oct. 16. The councilor said that they are working on an “Easthampton Day” at one of the WooSox games during the following season. “We want to create that relationship with them and eventually work with other organizations who can help in the city with the youth as well,” he added. Coaches from Easthampton High School, as well as coaches from Easthampton Softball and Little League, were sent pre-registration sign-ups for the clinics, but pre-registration is not required for children to participate.
The WooSox Foundation, which is a philanthropic arm of the Worcester Red Sox, conducts clinics like these across the commonwealth. The Foundation’s areas of focus are social justice, conquering cancer, recreation and education.