Leadership Vestavia, Barons hold baseball clinic for special needs students

A group of Vestavia Hills students got the chance to hit a home run today at the annual spring baseball clinic hosted by the Birmingham Barons and Leadership Vestavia Hills.

LVH member Brent Irby said the baseball clinic has been a tradition for the organization for seven years. LVH members coordinate with the Barons, special education classes at all Vestavia Hills schools and the Exceptional Foundation to put on the clinic.

In the outfield of the Barons' stadium, Regions Field, a handful of athletes and roughly a dozen LVH members taught clinic participants about pitching and running the bases. They also gave every participant the chance to play a game with the Barons, with parents and teachers cheering them on as they rounded the bases.

"It's the players that really take the initiative to make it a special day for these kids," Irby said.

The players also had lunch with the group after the clinic.

LVH board members Donnie Winningham and Charlie Shaw said the best part was watching the kids and Exceptional Foundation participants "light up" during the afternoon's events.

"We're here for the kids," Shaw said. "It's something they'll never forget."