ASTORIA, Ore. – The Port of Astoria is trying a more playful approach to keep sea lions off its docks: beach balls. A resident suggested the colorful balls as a deterrent after discovering that ...

As his vision flits in and out, Quintero fires the foam balls at him, sometimes from distances as close as 10 to 15 feet. All of this is an effort to improve Souza’s ability to recognize pitches.

The youngest players on Ajax books (8-12) barely spend any time learning how to head the ball and when they do, it is with a small foam version rather than a leather or a plastic one.