Challenger Baseball expanding to two divisions for second season

After a successful first season, Peterborough Challenger Baseball looks forward to 2017 with some new additions and improvements to their league.

In addition to welcoming new players and families to the league, Peterborough’s Challenger Baseball league will be divided into a Junior division and a Senior division.

The Junior division is designed for players with less developed playing skills or higher challenges to be met in life, while the Senior division is for players with more developed game skills who are interested in playing at a more competitive level.

As the number of players increases, the league also hopes to strengthen their executive board with new members, increase the number of volunteers, and explore funding resources to support the players and further develop the league.

Another effort by the league to further support the athletes is to ensure that player intros become part of each game with the regular announcement of players at bat and on deck. This year, the league plans to host Peterborough’s first ever Challenger Baseball Tournament, inviting out of area players and their families to the city.

Peterborough Challenger Baseball welcomes new team sponsor EasyHome Peterborough, which has supplied player T-shirts with “Challenger” printed on the front. Hobie’s Sports has also extended their support as a team sponsor.

The goal is to have the backs of all jerseys numbered to help coaches with player tracking during the games, and to ensure that every player has a the proper patching affixed to their jersey to show with pride the challenges they face. Their partnership with PBA Baseball will also continue in 2017 as the Selects will return to the Field of Dreams with Peterborough Challenger Baseball players as buddies and in play. Overall, the league hopes to improve the Field of Dreams at the Turner Park ball diamond and to make it the centre of focus for special needs baseball in the community.