Credit: Ramel Bocker / Respect Mel Shooter Media
The Fayetteville Woodpeckers, in partnership with local non-profit The Two Six Project and barber/influencer Vic Blends, assembled a mini-camp at Segra Statdium for the youth of the Fayetteville Metro Area. Prior to noon, players and coaching staff greeted parents and kids behind home plate. Afterwards, they organized the children into age-appropriate groups before heading out in the sweltering NC heat for a series of drills.
The Woodpeckers greet parents and kids at the start of the event. Credit: Ramel Bocker / Respect Mel Shooter Media
For many of the kids, especially black children, this was their first real exposure to the game of Baseball. This comes just weeks after the MLB integrated the Negro League’s stats and records—adding some sense of justice after years of disenfranchisement and lack of engagement of the Black community in America.
On the left, Grant Bennet—founder of The Two Six Project, observes drills on the field. Credit: Ramel Bocker / Respect Mel Shooter Media
Kids had one-on-one coaching with several players and coaches, learning basic skills and terminology of the game. Adding to this memorable experience, the kids were given access to state-of-the-art training area within Segra Stadium.
Credit: Ramel Bocker / Respect Mel Shooter Media
Vic Blends spoke with community activist and journalist Rakeem Jones on the importance of given back to the community. Vic and other barbers gave out free haircuts to kids. Credit: Ramel Bocker / Respect Mel Shooter Media
Times are changing and it seems baseball has seen a resurgence of interest in America’s Black youth not seen since the days of trailblazing greats like Jackie Robinson, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, and Satchel Paige. Providing community access like what the Woodpeckers and The Two Six Project have sown the seeds of baseball dreams in the minds of local kids for years to come. The youth certainly want to #PlayBall.
Check out the gallery below for more photos.
