DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — A free youth baseball camp is returning to Hess Park on Friday.
The Midwest Umpire Classic Camp welcomes children of all ages to come and learn the game.
"We're trying to bring baseball back to Decatur," said organizer Antwane McClelland.
Kids will learn baseball basics, including hitting, pitching, catching, running the bases and game strategies.
McClelland said the camp focuses on "teaching the kids the basics of the sports because one thing about baseball, it has so many different logics in the game."
The camp is completely free for all attendees.
"Last year we had like 50 kids," McClelland said. "This year, we expect to get at least 60. But everything is free. We try to give them a glove, a bat, feed them lunch and give them a t-shirt."
McClelland said he wants to see more local children playing baseball, noting that participation has declined since he was growing up.
"When we were growing up, we used to play baseball all the time at different parks, but the numbers are going down now," he said. "We just want to make the numbers go back up. So, I feel that if we start doing free baseball events, getting the kids to come out, I believe the numbers would go back up because baseball is a great sport."
Parents are invited to stay and watch. The camp begins at 9 a.m. Friday at Hess Park.
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