NewsLocal News

Actions

Badges and Baseball camp builds relationships

Posted at 12:45 PM, Feb 24, 2018
and last updated 2018-02-24 19:13:34-05

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- About 100 young baseball players got help from some very special coaches Saturday, members of the Kansas City Police Department.

It's the fourth annual Badges and Baseball sports camp that has detectives fielding grounders and throwing pitches; the officers hope to accomplish a lot more than that.

"It's our job to work with the community in order to make a better community. That starts with the children," explained Robert Schreiber, sergeant with KCPD.

Schreiber and others are coaching kids like Cy Jones, who plays for the Yankees youth baseball team right now.

"I play outfield but Im here to learn how to do infield and stuff," said Cy Jones.

Many of the players are also involved in the I am King Foundation that created the learning opportunity.

"Some times we turn officers into machines. Officers are people, they love baseball too. In a group setting everyone is having fun," said Chris Evans, director of the I Am King Foundation.

Officers gave high fives and offered advice along the way.

"If we mess up they're telling us you can still come back and get it and keep at it," said Jones.
This is the largest free clinic in four years.

It's being held at the new Kansas City Urban Youth Academy that officially opens in March. 

Its director Darwin Pennye believes development like this could be a game changer for young players and KC.

"There are those times that are trying. We have an opportunity today because of building relationships to avoid escalating events we see in our country today," explained Pennye.

After the practice police break into groups to talk about bullying and safety so kids and parents have a better chance at hitting a home run.