In an inspiring display of community engagement and sportsmanship, former Major League Baseball professionals recently visited Dodgertown Elementary School in Gifford to share their expertise with the local youth. The special PLAY BALL event, led by MLB Youth Ambassador Justin Sherman, brought the fundamentals of baseball directly to 120 enthusiastic fourth- and fifth-grade students in Indian River County.
The interactive sports clinic took place across the school’s basketball and baseball fields, featuring three distinct training stations. Students practiced essential athletic skills, including catching pop-ups, tracking fly balls, fielding grounders, and striking baseballs from a batting tee.
“You have to learn the basics before you can advance in any way. Being able to give back and teach the simple fundamentals of the game, especially nowadays because you don’t see that being taught very much anymore…kids just show up and play,” said Tim Wood, a former pitcher with the Florida Marlins and Pittsburgh Pirates.
While the annual PLAY BALL event is traditionally hosted at the Jackie Robinson Training Complex, this occasion marked the very first time the gathering was held directly on the campus of an Indian River County school. Rachelle Madrigal, vice-president of the Jackie Robinson Training Complex, noted that Dodgertown Elementary was the perfect starting point given the rich, collaborative history between the local school and the historic sports facility.
Dodgertown Elementary School Principal Felice Bagley praised the initiative, emphasizing that the event provided students with a unique opportunity to build confidence, practice teamwork, and create lasting memories. She expressed gratitude to Major League Baseball officials for delivering an experience capable of sparking lifelong passions in the young participants.
The day was not just about physical fundamentals; it was deeply rooted in the history of Vero Beach baseball. Dodgertown Elementary shares its namesake with Historic Dodgertown, which Major League Baseball took ownership of and renamed the Jackie Robinson Training Complex in 2019. The site, proudly featured on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail, hosts year-round youth programming such as the Breakthrough Series and the Hank Aaron Invitational.
Former pros at the event, including Bryan Augenstein of the Arizona Diamondbacks and St. Louis Cardinals, alongside Joe Grahe of the California Angels and Philadelphia Phillies, highlighted the critical importance of youth mentorship. Their primary goal is to expose children to the sport early on, hoping to inspire future local success stories. One such recent inspiration is Chuck Singletary, a 2026 Vero Beach High School graduate who earned a full-ride baseball scholarship to Wallace State College after participating in local complex programs.
The comprehensive community event concluded with exciting takeaways for the students. The standout moments for the young athletes included:
- Hands-on guidance and encouragement from former MLB professionals and MLB’s Boys Baseball Breakthrough Series players.
- A complimentary bat and baseball set provided to each participating student.
- Exclusive baseball cards and the opportunity to take memorable photos and videos with the visiting athletes.
Through impactful initiatives like PLAY BALL, the deep-rooted baseball legacy of the Vero Beach area continues to thrive, ensuring that local youth are supported, mentored, and inspired both on and off the field.
