In the hours before his third and final concert at Verizon Arena in North Little Rock, Garth Brooks joined four professional baseball players, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock baseball team and about 75 Little Rock-area Boys and Girls Club children for a three-hour clinic on baseball skills.
In a black cap, navy hoodie, jeans and tennis shoes, Brooks reminded the children that they were special but told them that Saturday was about being together and loving one another.
"That's what's it's all about," he said.
The clinic was a part of Brooks' Teammates for Kids Foundation, which pairs professional athletes with children for community programs across the country. The foundation, started in 1999, targets "health, education and the inner city," according to its website.
Brooks, who has briefly appeared in spring training with the San Diego Padres, New York Mets and the Kansas City Royals, is hosting a Teammates ProCamp during every stop in his World Tour.
On Saturday, a sunny day with temperatures reaching into the 60s, four professionals -- three of them Arkansas natives -- took to Lamar Porter Field, the place where third-base legend Brooks Robinson played as a boy.
The players? Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cliff Lee, a four-time all-star and Benton native; Phillies pitcher Jonathan Pettibone, from California; Chicago Cubs pitcher Travis Wood, a 2013 all-star and Bryant native; and Miami Marlins pitcher Dustin Moseley of Texarkana.
The children split into eight groups and took turns at different skills stations.
Wood threw fly balls, and children ran out to catch them.
One girl made a basket catch, at least 20 feet out.
"All right!" Wood said as she ran back into the line.
One boy couldn't miss. Another girl snagged one after several drops.
"I told you you were going to catch one!" Wood said.
Lee taught children how to bunt: Keep the bat parallel to the edge of the plate, choke up, put the other hand on the barrel and don't swing.
Lee said it was a good day to be out playing baseball and that he hoped he gave the children the tools to become professional baseball players "or whatever they want to be."
Saturday was a big day for Dalton Davis and Mason Massey, both 13-year-olds in the Saline County Boys and Girls Club. They're big fans of Lee.
"It was pretty cool," Mason said.
"I'm just glad I got to come," Dalton said.
Saturday was also a good day to learn, according to Faja Cunningham and Anthony Brown, both 13-year-olds in the Little Rock Boys and Girls Club and teammates on the Little Rock RBI league Cubs.
For instance, a person should run at an angle when rounding the bases, Anthony said.
"Otherwise, you can turn, and slip and fall."
Although Anthony hasn't listened to a lot of Brooks' music, he said meeting a celebrity Saturday was one of his favorite parts of the day.
For Brooks, Saturday wasn't so much about sports as it was about the children, some of whom have a harder time than others, he said.
At the end of the day, the children were fed pizza, and the ones who had to borrow gloves that morning were given free mitts to keep.
"It's all about love," Brooks said.
Metro on 12/14/2014