Tri-County Challenger Baseball
Where any hit can be a home run, mom’s prayers answered
Challenger Baseball, the lesser-known, special-needs division of Little League, is in communities across the country. But here in Southwest Florida, it’s not just a cookie-cutter version of what you’d find elsewhere. You can thank Rocky Barron for this. As president of the TriCounty Challenger Baseball league since 2004, he’s been adding special touches each year. “They were looking for volunteers to come out to the [Minnesota] Twins’ stadium to help with registration for Challenger Baseball,” says Barron, a Bonita resident and former Illinois insurance executive who coached and volunteered before taking the helm of the organization 13 years ago.
Kids ages 4 to 19 play in the junior league, can move up to the senior league any time after turning 15, if it seems appropriate for the player. Player needs are wide ranging, from wheelchair-bound to Down syndrome to varying degrees of autism. “God placed it in my heart to serve these kids,” says Barron. “It’s about the parents, too, and giving them a family support system to meet their challenges.”
The depth of compassion Barron brings to the league is accentuated by a team of about a dozen volunteers helping from January to May with Saturday morning games in Lee County. What has evolved is like an answered prayer for many special-needs families, including my own. Having struck out at several other group sports, my 13-year-old daughter finally hit a home run playing for the Mets, part of the Challenger Baseball family. For Caitlyn, who has an intellectual disability, joining the Mets was an amazingly natural and fun fit. With her pediatrician as the assistant coach of her team, Caitlyn felt much less overwhelmed playing in a league with more than 100 players, easing right into it.
Things outside baseball include a pre-season family night in December at the Florida Everblades’ annual Teddy Bear Toss game at Germain Arena. Other exciting extras
On the field, it’s about support and celebration, not competition.
include a mid-season potluck picnic at Lakes Regional Park, and two fall overnights with hotel stays subsidized or provided by the league. Families each October go to Clearwater, Florida, for a jamboree with other Challenger leagues, and a couple of weeks later to the Sandpiper Inn in Fort Myers Beach. The league hosts a May golf tournament with a silent auction that brings in about $15,000-$20,000, which funds the overnights and other expenses. To encourage participation from families of all means, there’s no registration fee and uniforms are free. A big season highlight is picture and game day with the Minnesota Twins at spring training.
Kimberley Hennessey’s two sons play for Challenger Baseball. “It’s the one place where you’re not judged when your kid has a meltdown. It’s such a welcoming place to be,” she says. “Parents get as much out of it as the kids.”
With retention of up to 90 percent, Challenger has a reputation as welcoming opportunity for special-needs families in Southwest Florida. On the field, it’s about support and celebration, not competition. Parents, siblings and relatives are welcome to help their kids bat and can join them in the outfield. Each player gets to bat once an inning. No one strikes out. Each player can swing until they hit the ball. And, when they get a hit, no one’s going to stop them if they decide to run the bases and make it a home run. In fact, the announcer is known to encourage the kids to do so.
At the last game of the season, Caitlyn was helped at bat by her cousin A.J., when she got a hit on her first pitch. Volunteer announcer John Kucko egged her on and acknowledged the two teammates she batted in. “Caitlyn’s up to bat. Caitlyn, number 16 … she hits it!” he bellowed over the loudspeaker, adding as she skirted first base, “Oh, wow! They’re running, come on go, go, Caitlyn! Way to go, Tim! Here comes Marissa! Good job, Caitlyn!”
Tri-County Challenger Baseball registration takes place by mid-November. The golf fundraiser is May 13 at The Forest Country Club. Teams of four are welcomed. Contact Rocky Barron for all details at rbarron1@comcast.net.