JOSH LEDERMAN
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Put down the juice box and lace up your sneakers. President Barack Obama is pinch-hitting for Little League.

The president paid a surprise visit to Washington’s Friendship Park, where a handful of teams were already in full swing.

Obama shook hands with the players and posed for photos with each team. He even tried his hand at pitching.

Shocked parents reached for their smartphones to snap a quick photo, but not all of their kids were as impressed. Some held back, unsure of who Obama was, until their parents led them back onto the infield.

The White House says the visit is tied to Obama’s trip to New York state this week to speak at the Baseball Hall of Fame. That visit is focused on boosting U.S. exports, including tourism.

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