Nashville Sounds Foundation Holds Clinic For The Hearing-Impaired

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Nashville Sounds Foundation hosted the Sounds Annual Fantasy Baseball Clinic on Monday morning at First Tennessee Park. Four Sounds players worked with 50 Nashville area hearing-impaired children in the baseball clinic that was hosted in partnership with the Sertoma Club of Nashville.

Catcher Luke Carlin and pitchers Seth Frankoff, Pat Venditte and Kevin Whelan provided hands-on instruction to the children.

Each of the players hosted stations for the clinic attendees that featured throwing and catching, hitting off a batting tee, and base running. At the conclusion of the clinic, the four Sounds players plus Booster, the Sounds' mascot, signed autographs and took pictures with the participants and their teachers.

The opportunity to be on the field and receive instruction from professional baseball players was something valued by both the participants and the players.

"I couldn't ask for anything better from the players," said Rucker Betty, President of the Nashville Sertoma Club. "They were really engaging with the kids and I know it meant a lot to them."

"It was a lot of fun," Frankoff said, "the kids were into it and we had a good time. It's important to pay it forward. We've been blessed with some good opportunities in our lives."

The clinic is a continuation of a longstanding partnership between the Sounds and the Sertoma Club, who have been doing a variation of the clinic for 16 years according to Nashville Sertoma Club member Pat Clark.

"It's really informal, but they have a blast," Clark said. "There is no right or wrong. We love this." 

The goal of the Nashville Sounds Foundation is to positively impact the thriving Middle Tennessee community. The foundation supports programs that energize and influence youth through education, physical development and by maximizing community service. The clinic with the Nashville Sertoma Club is always something the Community Relations department looks forward to participating in.

"Overall the day was a huge success," said Maddison Connell, Director of Community Relation for the Nashville Sounds. "The children had a wonderful time and the players in attendance really enjoyed being part of such an important event in these kids' lives."