By Heather McDonald

Jason Schiszik is not new to baseball. He plays on a team, knows how to hit and can field pretty well, too. This summer, he’s also taken up coaching. Well, sort of.

At any given time in practice at the Boys & Girls Club in Plover, Jason can be seen guiding and encouraging teammates in the Club’s Little Hitters program.

“He is super helpful and has a great attitude towards everyone,” said Katy Pozorski, Little Hitters co-coach at the Plover location. “He says ‘here’s where you put your hands,’ and ‘that’s OK, you’re really close,’ and chants his team’s chant with the boys’ names and really makes (them) feel like (they’re) a good player.”

The Little Hitters baseball/tee ball program has been going on at Boys & Girls Club of Portage County for about five years and includes children in grades first through third (entering this fall). There’s about 45 children signed up from the Club’s Plover location and Berard Center in Stevens Point, as well as others from the Rosholt site who mix in with the main sites to play four games in the summer.

The program allows children who enjoy baseball, tee ball and softball an opportunity to either get some extra practice in or learn the sport for the first time.

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