Courtesy of Worcester State Sports Information

Worcester, MA --- On Tuesday, July 29, the Worcester State University baseball team and the Chinese Taipei National Association, who is also known as Team Taiwan, hosted a free clinic at the Kevin Lyons Diamond in Rockwood Park.

25 participants, who were between the ages of 5-14, from the local Worcester community got the opportunity to learn about pre-game stretching exercises, base stealing, hitting and fielding from some of the best players in the world and the local area.

"This was one of the best baseball clinics we've ever run" said Worcester State head coach Dr. Dirk Baker. "I think everyone really enjoyed themselves and the kids had a ball."

The clinic is one of the events that the Chinese Taipei Baseball Association participated in during their week-long stay in Worcester. The visit of Team Taiwan to the city is a part of a new Worcester Bravehearts initiative, the Worcester Baseball World Series, to welcome international teams to the area.

The Chinese Taipei Baseball Association also had exhibition contests against the Bravehearts on Monday, the Seacoast Mavericks in Portsmouth, New Hampshire this past Tuesday and the New England Elite All-Star team late in the evening on Tuesday.

Sophomore Dennis Duplessis, who plays shortstop and third base for Worcester State, echoed the same sentiment as his head coach about the clinic.

"It was really great working with the young kids of Worcester and the Taiwan team too," said Duplessis. "I think they learned a lot through the course of the clinic."

The approach was to let the kids experience "by doing", said Jacky Yuan, the Chinese National Baseball Association secretary, in an interview with TVCharter3 evening reporter, Sioban Lopez. While Yuan was on hand to act as a translator, many of the Team Taiwan players barely spoke a word of English during the afternoon while they demonstrated proper techniques through body language.

 "(We wanted to) let them do it by themselves," said Yuan. "That is the best experience. It's better to experience for their (future) baseball career."

The clinic started off with a quick question and answer session before the kids were drilled through the various stages of the game. After a session of the approach behind swinging the bat in the infield dirt, the participants were treated to a special batting practice session that pitted one of the Chinese Taipei National players against WSU freshman outfielder Adam Barry before the kids got to take some hacks in the cage themselves.

Duplessis said his favorite part of the clinic was when he got the chance to flash some leather and demonstrate proper fielding techniques at the end of the clinic.

"I love playing in the infield," said Duplessis. "I thought that was the best place I could help them out the most, especially the infielders in their stance and receiving the ball. It was a great chance to get hands-on with the kids."

Eight year-old attendee Martin was thrilled about having the chance to get up close and personal with the college baseball players and the representatives from Team Taiwan.

"I liked how we warmed up," said Martin. "I liked watching batting practice, how they fielded and how (fast) they can run."

Jason, a seven-year old, was also delighted about his experience at the afternoon clinic.

"It was really cool. I got to meet a famous baseball team and I've never made a team before," said Jason. "I liked taking grounders the best."

"To me, it's amazing just to have them here; hosting them at Worcester State, it's just amazing," said freshman Kris Doyle, a right-handed pitcher on the Worcester State club, in his video interview with Lopez.

For the participants, those from the Chinese Taipei National  Association and the Worcester State baseball squad, there were nothing but smiles throughout the course of the afternoon. That's because in the game of baseball, there are no barriers or boundaries; it's one common language that mostly all players can't always explain, but they always understand.