The 2022 Los Angeles Dodgers Love L.A. Community Tour has been in full swing this week, and it included the team welcoming Ball Girls Baseball Club to Dodger Stadium for a women’s clinic.
The non-profit organization and all-girls baseball league was founded by Allie Lacey, who is a Dodgers ball girl. The group was able to learn from Dodgers coaches Dino Ebel and Clayton McCullough, and Will Smith and Justin Turner also joined them for a Home Run Derby. Lunch was provided to the girls by California Pizza Kitchen.
“It was awesome,” Turner told DodgerBlue.com. “They had already done a bunch of drills and stuff, and when me and Will went out, we presented a check from the Dodgers to Allie. Then took the girls out and did a Home Run Derby. It was really cool. A lot of good baseball players.”
Smith added: “It was really cool. It was a really good opportunity. I think there were girls as young as 4 or 5 years old, and up to high school that were involved. They were doing some drills with coaches, then J.T. and I went out there, took some pictures, signed a bunch of stuff for them and did a couple Home Run Derbies.
“It was pretty impressive, the quality of swings they had and how good they were. They got some really good instruction and are some pretty good ballplayers.”
Girl power.
Can't beat baseball lessons at Dodger Stadium with @redturn2 and @will_smith30 for the Dodgers Love LA Community Tour presented by @BankofAmerica. pic.twitter.com/eJDtNt4qOq
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 24, 2022
The Dodgers Love LA Community Tour presented by @BankofAmerica continues with a Career Day for @CBBBSLA, a local community partner serving Black and Brown students. Dave Roberts and several Black front office employees shared their experiences as minorities in baseball. pic.twitter.com/EO2oXVPpgJ
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 24, 2022
.@JackBox in the morning, Dodger Stadium at night.
Another Dodgers Love LA Community Tour event presented by @BankofAmerica! pic.twitter.com/Rlza5AhRxC
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 24, 2022
Also on Wednesday, the Dodgers welcomed members of Catholic Big Brothers Big Sisters, a local community partner serving Black and Brown students, to take part in a Career Day. They heard from manager Dave Roberts and Black front office employees during a session that was meant to inspire youth.
Dodgers serve at Jack in the Box
On Thursday, Evan Phillips, Tony Gonsolin and Alex Vesia took over a local Jack in the Box, where they surprised fans by taking orders and working the drive-thru line.
“We got to see how the backstage of everything kind of works,” Vesia said. “It was a lot of fun. We enjoyed it. I didn’t realize how fast paced everything is. They have a timer in the drive-thru once the order is in, they have a specific amount of time. They didn’t say what their goal is, but it’s quick.
“There was one that was like a minute and 52 seconds for them to get their food and move onto the next customer so it moves smoothly. I had a lot of fun. I enjoyed it.”
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