At 3 p.m. on September 17, 2025, under the bright and pleasant sunshine, CKYC held a Baseball Experience Workshop on the Mini Artificial Turf Soccer Pitch (MSP). A group of vibrant young students gathered here, sweating in the clear afternoon, to get up close with baseball—a sport they had long heard of but rarely had the chance to experience.

Even before the event officially started, the venue was filled with an atmosphere of eager anticipation. Students and professional coaches arrived early, and under the coach’s guidance, they carried out warm-up exercises in an orderly manner—stretching, twisting, and jogging. These movements not only awakened their physical vitality but also heightened their excitement for the upcoming baseball learning session.​

“Throwing and catching are the basic skills of baseball, and they even affect the outcome of a game. However, proper protection is the prerequisite for all movements,” the coach said after the warm-up. He first focused on the fundamental points of baseball and explained in detail to the students the method of wearing a baseball glove and its functions. It is reported that baseball gloves are made of thick and sturdy cowhide, usually worn on the left hand to cushion the impact when catching the ball, while leaving the right hand free for throwing.​

Subsequently, the students paired up in groups of two to practice throwing and catching. Initially, many students frequently dropped the ball due to unfamiliarity with the skills—some threw the ball at too low an angle, causing it to hit the ground early, while others misjudged the timing of catching. Nevertheless, with the coach’s patient guidance, they kept practicing and gradually mastered the force application techniques: the rotation of the wrist, the arc of the arm, and the control of strength. As the practice progressed, the distance of their throws increased, and the success rate of catching improved significantly. More and more students found the rhythm and feel of throwing and catching in a real baseball field. Building on this foundation, the coach further guided everyone to try the coherent movement of “throwing immediately after catching.” Relying on the throwing and catching experience accumulated earlier, the students quickly mastered this advanced skill.​

The most anticipated part of the day was undoubtedly the batting experience. When it comes to baseball, the first images that usually come to people’s minds are the metal-glinting bats and the crisp “pop” sound when the bat hits the ball. Yet, this dynamic movement also hides considerable safety risks—baseballs are hard and heavy, and improper operation can easily lead to injuries. To ensure the students’ safety while allowing them to better enjoy the fun of batting, the coach lowered the difficulty of the practice by fixing the baseball on a stand, and focused on guiding the students on the correct posture for applying force and how to choose the hitting angle.​ Holding the heavy bat firmly, with their feet steadily planted on the green field, the students took a deep breath and locked their eyes on the center of the ball with concentration. As they twisted their waists to drive their bodies, their arms swung straight forward with the inertia. With a soft “pop,” the baseball was successfully hit and flew away. At that moment, every participant truly felt the pure charm of baseball, and broad smiles spread across their faces.​

When the event came to an end, many students were still reluctant to leave and asked the coach about how to join the baseball club. “I fell in love with the thrilling feeling of baseball at my first experience. I hope I can continue to learn more about it,” one student said, voicing the thoughts of many participants. This Baseball Experience Workshop not only provided students with an opportunity to get in touch with a niche sport but also subtly promoted baseball to step out of its “niche circle” and move toward a broader public perspective—and these sports-loving young students are the most vivid force in this “promotion journey.”

Written by: SONG JIA QI