Charles Karstedt instructs Alex Ward, 10, on batting technique at Nickel City Baseball's first skills and conditioning clinic for children with high-functioning autism. Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News

Tracey Ward cheered and applauded as she watched her son Alex run the bases Tuesday at New Era Park in Hamburg.

The 10-year-old Alden resident had just connected with the ball during a one-hour baseball skills and conditioning clinic at the indoor facility on Lake Avenue.

The occasion was Nickel City Baseball's first-ever clinic for children with high-functioning autism, or Asperger syndrome. Alex, who is autistic, was the first official player-in-training.

"All the way home, Alex!" instructor Charles Karstedt urged as the boy rounded third base. "That really was a home run. That was your farthest one yet."

It is not very often that Alex engages in those types of activities. Ward said her son, at times, is anxious about playing sports, but she hopes the clinic will help turn that around, improve his social and motor skills, and give him a reason for enthusiasm.

"Sometimes it's hard to motivate Alex to do things," Ward said. "Sometimes it takes a program where people have a little niche or trick to get him to do things. Last year, we had him in a camp to learn to ride a bike, and he did it in two days, so I was hoping this would be along the same lines."

Nickel City co-founder Sean Lewis said that was the intention - to help children with special needs gain confidence and improve their hand-eye coordination. The idea for the clinic, he said, was from the mother of four autistic children, who worked with his partner, Justin Santonocito...."

e-mail: jsmith@buffnews.com