By Rebekah Dyvig, staff writer

Hammer Field was buzzing with excitement Sunday morning as 24 area youth had the opportunity to enhance their baseball and softball skills at the Play Ball! Minnesota Twins Youth Clinic.

The clinic was open to youth ages 6 to 16 and taught hitting, fielding and throwing while also providing positive messages to the participants about staying in school.

The clinic was taught by Dick Mingo, Ken Mauer and Jay Brown.

Mauer, uncle of Joe Mauer, taught youth five steps to hitting and worked with the participants to help them put the steps into action.

Mingo specializes in teaching participants throwing. He has worked with the Twins clinics for 24 years and coached high school baseball for 30 years. He is a charter member of the Minnesota High School Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame.

“It keeps an old geezer young by working with kids,” Mingo said with a smile.