AUBURN – The Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine Auburn/Lewiston Clubhouse has received a $15,000 grant from the Cal Ripken Foundation to run a Badges to Baseball program this summer, pairing the club with the Auburn Police Department for a summer of ball.

Area children are invited to come out, play ball, learn about healthy lifestyles and get to know their local police officers at the Boys & Girls Club. The club is offering a free program for youth ages 9 to 14 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays from June 10 to Aug. 19.

Badges to Baseball is sponsored by the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation and features weekly lessons about healthy eating, good sportsmanship and character development, and games of Quickball, a fast-paced version of baseball similar to Wiffleball that is aimed to make the game more fun for everyone – regardless of skill level.

Registration is free to the first 120 participants. For more information or to sign up, call the Boys & Girls Club at 782-2446.