David Ortiz's Baseball Clinic a Hit in Melrose

On Monday hundreds of aspiring baseball players from the Melrose region got insight from one of Major League Baseball's top designated hitters and beloved Boston Red Sox player David "Big Papi" Ortiz.

More than 160 kids attended the baseball clinic outside Melrose High School at Morelli Field, according to Eric Liebler of Pro Camps, an organization that ran the clinic sponsored by Citi and Hannaford. Children in grades 1-8 participated in various baseball activities, including throwing, fielding and hitting drills for about 2 1/2 hours, while dozens of their friends and family looked on from the bleachers and sidelines.

Andy Danner, serving as the leader of activities throughout the clinic for Pro Camps, discussed what a program like this means to area children.

"The fact that we are doing a camp for someone who is in the playoffs is pretty special," Danner said. "Typically, our baseball camps are during the summer when school is out, but to do it on the cusp of the playoffs but not only that, with Big Papi, I mean he is iconic here in the area and in baseball. No matter where you go you know who he is and you can see that from the smiles on the kids' faces, the parents' faces and we've had a great parent turnout for this as well."

One of the highlights for Danner was seeing Big Papi's son, D'Angelo, participating in the drills with local children. "He needed to be put on one of the teams so I took him out to one of the teams and the other kids on the team knew who he was and got excited to not only see Big Papi but Little Papi as well," he said.

Ortiz, who signed autographs and took team photos with the kids, was having fun with the children, as he could be seen giving them high-fives before joining them in drills and offering pointers along the way.

During a media gathering with Ortiz, Melrose Patch asked the veteran slugger how he's feeling physically and mentally heading into the postseason.

"I feel good, I feel good," Ortiz said. "I had to put a lot of work in this offseason because of my injury last year. Once you are in the playoffs, it's like blank check. You just walk in (with) a fresh mentality and you try your best."

When asked by Danner to tell Ortiz what she felt was one of the most important parts about baseball, Emilia Rahilly said it's all about camaraderie.

"...You have to have fun, but something that's most important is friendship because if you're not friends then no one can help you out and you can't be a really good baseball player," she said. Ortiz agreed, saying, "That's so nice...and that's why we are winning because we have good teammates, we have a good team, (and) everyone got along pretty well..."

Rahilly was one of three kids to be named a Participant of the Day at the clinic.

Following a question-and-answer session with the youngsters, Ortiz told them to listen to their parents, do well in school and to never do drugs, including steroids.

With the Red Sox making the playoffs, Melrose Patch asked Ortiz how he's feeling heading into postseason play.

Sean O'Brien, of Swampscott, was one of the coaches at the clinic and he talked about what it was like to work at Big Papi's clinic and to see his younger brother, Cameron O'Brien, and cousin, Aeydan Leydon, having fun.

"It was a good thing for the kids and he is an idol to a lot of the kids in the area," O'Brien said. "For them to be able to have an experience like that is definitely great, especially with the way (the Red Sox) have played all year. It's good for kids this age to be able to watch a ball club like that produce the way they are."

O'Brien said he would have loved to have attended a clinic like the one held in Melrose, which was the second one held in the city in as many years.

"It was a privilege for me to have my little brother and cousin be able to go to this and I think it's been a great experience for everybody."

Ortiz teamed up with Hannaford Helps Schools to raise $5,000 for local area schools and FoodPlay, as they presented a check to Foodplay during the clinic.

Were you at the David Ortiz baseball clinic in Melrose? If so, let us know what you thought of the event by posting a comment below.