Pirates host Fields for Kids celebration with the Deer Lakes Youth Baseball Association in West Deer

A week that began at the Major League Baseball All-Star game in Seattle for Pirates pitcher Mitch Keller ended on a youth baseball field in West Deer on Saturday morning.

Keller was one of three Pirates players taking part in a Pirates Charities Field for Kids celebration for the Deer Lakes Youth Baseball Association for the completion of a large-scale fencing and batting cage project, funded by grant dollars received through the program. Pirates Charities is the team’s philanthropic division run in partnership with Highmark.

The Pirates players, including Keller and two pitchers on the injured list, Vince Velasquez and J.T. Brubaker, provided instruction as part of a multi- station clinic for athletes from the Deer Lakes Youth Baseball Association, including kids who are part of the newly formed All-Abilities division.

Keller said he was impressed with the youth program’s baseball facilities.

“It’s my first time out here, and they have a lot of good baseball fields,” Keller said. “When we were driving in, it was awesome. And then just to be here and (experience) the support from the families and friends of these kids out here is awesome.”

Keller seemed to be having as much fun as the kids, laughing it up as he lobbed wiffle balls at a home run derby station set up in the outfield.

As the youth baseball players started belting some of his pitches over the fence, Keller remarked, “Good job, dude. I’m gonna have to start throwing you curve balls.”

Keller said it’s always good for someone in his shoes to support young baseball players.

“It’s always fun to get out here and to see the smiles on their faces,” Keller said. “Every time we do something out in the community, all the kids are really excited and always wanting to learn and wanting to play. And they’re all running from station to station having fun, so it’s always a good time.”

In addition to home run derby, the stations included shagging fly balls in left field, fielding grounders in the infield, and pitching. The drills were overseen by Mitchell Bianco, of the Bianco School of Baseball in Canonsburg.

The Deer Lakes youth players had plenty of questions for Keller, including what he eats before a game. A smoothie and a lunch wrap was the answer.

As for the question of who is the toughest hitter for him to face, Keller said it’s Paul Goldschmidt of the St. Louis Cardinals.

The kids enjoyed their chance to take some hacks against Keller.

“It was awesome,” said Evan Harris, 10, West Deer. “He threw some good curve balls.”

Deer Lakes Middle School baseball coach Tom Crawford, who helps his wife, Lori, run the All-Abilities program, said everyone was having a good time.

“It’s so nice not only to have the organization here but to have the kids out on a nice sunny Saturday playing baseball and getting some good instruction from professionals,” Tom Crawford said.

“They’re having a blast,” Lori Crawford said. “Everyone’s having a great time.”

In addition to the players, the Pirate Parrot was on hand as well as a couple of the Pirates Pierogies — Cheese Chester and Jalapeno Hannah, dressed in the Deer Lakes colors of green and yellow.

“To be able to come out and help improve fields and make sure that they’re kept up so that kids can have a safe and enjoyable place to play is really important to us,” Pirates President Travis Williams said. “It’s really important to us to continue to develop the growth and love of the sport, and in addition, to learn the lessons this sport has to offer — teamwork, adversity, challenge, respect — all of the things that team sports teach you.”

If those lessons are well learned, the young players in attendance might have a chance to follow in Keller’s footsteps to the All-Star game, an experience Keller said he really enjoyed.

“It was fun, chaotic, but really fun, super exciting times. And I was just super excited to be there with my family and experience it. It was an event that I’ll never forget — to be out there with (pitcher David) Bednar and Sheltie (manager Derek Shelton). That made the experience a lot cooler.”