Olympic softball player Aguilar teaches clinic at Auburn

US Olympic softball silver medalist Ali Aguilar taught a clinic to the lucky Little Leaguers of Auburn on March 20 ahead of the league's Opening Day. "My uncle helps out with a little league there, and so he had been talking about trying to get people excited about the league and softball and asked me to come out. So I was like, 'Of course,' " she said. "So we decided to come do a camp. Hopefully, people are excited." Aguilar said the level of play in recent years has declined but hopes a return to normalcy this year will bring back an interest in youth softball. She said she feels a duty to give back and be an example for young players in the area. "I started just like they did. I never knew that I would get to play in the Olympics one day. You really don't know what can happen and you just work hard and love the game," Aguilar said. "I think it's good for the little girls to have an example. I always used to think it was so cool when someone was from like Sacramento or like a small town near Sacramento. I know how encouraging that was for me." Aguilar grew up in the Sacramento area and attended Casa Roble High School in Orangevale, where she helped lead the Rams to the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II championship in 2013. From there, she attended the University of Washington, where she was a two-time All-American. Aguilar has been with the Women's National Team since 2019. The clinic took place at Auburn's Skyridge Field and was free for all members of the league to attend. Aguilar stated she loves giving back to young players and that, "It's always cool to be able to inspire a young player, even if it's just one girl."