Take me out to the ball game
The biggest challenge with Challenger Baseball is trying to figure out who is having the most fun.
The kids and their buddies whack the ball and round the bases. Family and friends sit in lawn chair at the edge of the field and supply a steady chorus of cheers and encouragement. Promises of ice cream after the game are floated.
It is all part of a team effort between Niagara Children’s Centre and the Jays Care Foundation to establish the program in Niagara this year. About 50 families signed up.
“What we learned is that people love their baseball,” said Chris Tawil of the Niagara Children’s Centre. “Sometimes baseball can be a bit boring, but the parents are excited about it and that makes the kids excited. It’s family fun. We have grandparents who come out and watch the kids play. There are a lot of smiling faces.”
Adaptive baseball provides an opportunity for children with cognitive or physical disabilities to play at a level structured to their needs. Saturday was the final game of the season. The organizers handed out medals to everyone after the last run scored.
“Each player has a volunteer buddy who meets them at their needs,” said Shauna Morris, the executive communications coordinator at the centre. “If it is a physical need, the buddy will help fill in with the need. If there is a social need or focusing need, the buddy fills in.”
Morris said the Jays Care Foundation supplied equipment and provided support to get the program up and running for kids age four to 18, though there are some three-year-olds.
“It was through Jays Care that we put together a group of parents that helped us decide how we could best fulfil their needs and sort out things like the best days of the week to play.
“It has turned out to be a great community program. We started with Niagara Children’s Centre community, but we hoping we can expand it.”
Jade Medeiros signed up her son Colton, 3.
“This is his first time playing a real sport,” she said. “He likes it. He’s made some friends. The different coloured balls are a big hit with him.
“He has a tee at home, so he practices his hits. I think as he gets bigger, he will enjoy it even more.”