ABOVE: Softball players follow the guidance of professional coach, Rick Pauly, during a pitching clinic Saturday at Fairmont High School.

FAIRMONT– Over the weekend, a pitching clinic, led by Rick Pauly, took place in Fairmont. The event was hosted by local softball association, Cardinal Power Fastpitch, with help from Fairmont Community Education and Recreation.

Ricky Pauly has coached softball on several different levels from 14 U to college. He’s a former University of Georgia Bulldogs pitching coach and a member of the 2015 USA National Team Coaching Pool.

Pauly’s daughter, Sarah, also helped at the clinic. She’s had a successful career, starting as a collegiate pitcher at Texas A&M– Corpus Christi and later in the National Pro Fastpitch league. She’s also held several successful coaching stints.

John Oothoudt of the Cardinal Power Fastpitch said this is the 6th year Pauly has come to Fairmont. Oothoudt was instrumental in getting Pauly to first come to Fairmont.

“In looking at how the best pitchers in the world pitch, I learned about him and how he has taught,” Oothoudt said.

He made connections and learned that professional coaches, Rick and Sarah Pauly, along with help from other instructors, put on pitching clinics all over the country.

This week’s event included an “Elite Pitching for Coaches and Parents” class, which took place Friday evening at Fairmont High School. Oothoudt said a whole coaching staff came from Clarksville, IA came. About 25 adults attended that class.

On Saturday there were two sessions, “Mechanics of Elite Pitchers” in the morning for beginners and “Advanced Movement” in the afternoon for advanced players. There was a total of 49 participants which included ages 8 up to college aged.

This year, Oothoudt said there were people who came from Fargo, ND, upper Wisconsin and many from Iowa. In the past, people have also come from Nebraska and even Canada to attend the pithing clinic in Fairmont.

When asked how he spreads the word that Pauly is coming, Oothoudt said he send about 3,000 emails to high school coaches in all of Minnesota and Iowa.

“We also email travel ball coaches across the Midwest,” he said.

Oothoudt explained why the clinic is something valuable for players to take.

“There’s right ways and wrong ways, safe ways and ways to pitch that might hurt your arm or shoulder,” Oothoudt explained.

The Paulys have studied how the top pitchers in the world pitch. They’ve broken down the movements and developed curriculum they use to teach others.

For information on the Paulys or to find a clinic, go to paulygirlfastpitch.com.