Fun At Bat: Testimonials

MLB & MiLB

“At the Arizona Diamondbacks, youth baseball and softball outreach are at the center of our overall community impact strategy. It is our goal to grow the game of baseball/softball by increasing inclusivity and opportunity while removing barriers to access. The USA Baseball Fun At Bat program aligns perfectly with our mission.

“In 2024 alone, we have seen over 38,000 Arizona elementary school students gain access to baseball/ softball through Fun At Bat. Working together with USA Baseball has allowed us to increase our reach within our market. Creating co-branded materials with USA Baseball and our local partner, Whataburger, has added another layer of excitement as we provide those materials to the schools for free along with the equipment kits that they receive in the mail.

“Fun At Bat gives us an additional avenue to visit local schools and interact with the students, creating a lasting impact. By the end of 2024, we will have visited four local schools for Fun At Bat clinics this year. These clinics are put on by our D-backs Baseball Academy staff, providing students with high-quality instruction on the fundamentals of baseball/softball. Many of the kids at these schools have never played baseball/softball before, and the Fun At Bat program is their first experience with the game. Through Fun At Bat, we can empower both students and teachers alike as they learn the game and improve their overall health and wellbeing.”

Taylor Merwin
Coordinator, Community Relations and Partner Programs
Arizona Diamondbacks

“The Cincinnati Reds and Reds Community Fund are grateful to USA Baseball for its partnership on several levels. The Community Fund is uniquely focused on growing the game, and Fun At Bat has become a foundational component in our mission. Previously, we operated a similar program in five markets, reaching roughly 2,000 kids annually. Already, we’ve been able to introduce more than 26,000 kids per year throughout Reds Country to the basic skills, rules and character messages of the game, while doing so primarily as a part of the elementary school curriculum. We believe that this is an essential part of our work, and that USA Baseball is an ideal partner in the endeavor. USA Baseball has also provided us with other important tools, such as with annual coaches’ clinics and online teaching tools. As we work to make the game more accessible for kids and coaches, we need to align with the right strategic partners. We’re excited to build upon the successes that we’ve already enjoyed with USA Baseball, and we look forward to future growth and partnership.”

Charley Frank
Executive Director
Reds Community Fund

“The Amazin’ Mets Foundation is proud to partner with USA Baseball on the Fun At Bat program, which will reach approximately 235,000 elementary students by the end of 2024. This program allows us to introduce the fundamentals of baseball to students who may not have otherwise had the opportunity to experience the sport. The feedback from students and educators who have implemented Fun At Bat into their physical education curriculum has been overwhelmingly positive, and this program has opened doors for us to engage with hundreds of new elementary schools across our surrounding communities. Through Fun At Bat, the Amazin’ Mets Foundation has been able to provide new baseball resources and opportunities to students, families and educators across the Tri-state area.”

Erica Wells
Community Program Manager
New York Mets

Teachers

"Fun at Bat is the complete package. It truly is a plug and play program that teachers and students love. The lessons, which are designed to improve physical literacy and develop character, have made an incredibly positive impact in our schools."

Geoff Meehle, Education Specialist - Baltimore City Public Schools

"Des Moines Public Schools was fortunate enough to receive the Fun at Bat kits and curriculum this past school year. The Fun at Bat program has given our students equity and access to foundational skills (Striking with a Long-Implement, personal responsibility, safety, etc.) that maybe not otherwise taught due to our equipment budgets and limitations. The ease of implementation with standard-aligned lessons and more importantly giving student’s access to these skills makes this program a necessity in every district."

Carlye Satterwhite, Physical Education/Health Curriculum Coordinator - Des Moines Public Schools

"Fun at Bat is a complete "turn-key" program. They provide everything for FREE: training, curriculum and equipment. USA baseball was so easy to work with and they trained all 110 of our elementary schools!"

Kim Cooke, Ed.D, Health and PE Specialist – Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

"Thank you USA Baseball and Fun At Bat for providing the Fun at Bat kits, character education books, detailed curriculum, and Charlotte Knights game day experience for our teachers. Tyler provided an interactive, informative, research-based curriculum that is easy to use and understand, for all of our elementary Physical Education teachers in Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools. We are excited and can't wait to see it in action!"

Andrew Romberger, Health and Physical Education Resource Teacher – Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

"The students really enjoyed our baseball/softball unit using the Fun At Bat equipment. They were all engaged and physically active in each station they rotated through. The soft equipment was great for both beginners and experienced students to keep everyone safe and having fun!"

Kristie Rannik, Physical Education Teacher – Bales Intermediate School, Friendswood, Texas

"The Fun At Bat program provided our school with the resources to introduce our students to the game of baseball and softball. To see students of all abilities wanting to play together is remarkable! The interest carried over into our local baseball and softball leagues this summer. This program exceeded my expectations as an educator."

Kevin Brown, Physical Education Teacher – Exira EHK Elementary, Exira, Iowa