San Diego Padres and USAA Hold Baseball Clinic for Children

One hundred children from military and veteran families were invited to attend.

Children of active-duty military personnel and veterans got a chance to learn how to play baseball from the San Diego Padres on Thursday.

The United Services Automobile Association (USAA) and the Padres held a two-hour baseball clinic at Petco Park.

Kids were able to learn batting techniques, fielding and throwing mechanics.

Brandi Jones came from Yuma, Arizona to San Diego for the clinic with her 10-year old daughter Harmony and 9-year old son Jet.

She told NBC 7 she didn’t tell her kids the reason for their trip to San Diego until Thursday morning and says they were thrilled.

“We really could not believe it until we opened the gates and we were on the field,” she said.

Jones’ husband has been an active-duty service member for 16 years. She says this opportunity means a lot to her family.

“I’ve noticed some of our budgets have gone away from our military families and for someone to step up, like the Padres and offer to do something for our kids has just been really touching.”

Padres alumni and volunteer coaches put the kids through basic baseball drills. The kids were also able to create their own baseball cards and receive tickets to the Padres game on Aug 21 against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

This was the second clinic hosted by the Padres and USAA this week.

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