The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Second season of Miracle League has ‘new atmosphere’
The Miracle League of Lake County is currently in its second season, allowing 90 area kids the opportunity to play baseball with the support of their families and community.
A league for individuals with special needs, the Miracle League began its eightweek summer session in June and will be playing a six-week fall session in August and September. The decision was made based on how last year’s inaugural season played out.
League Commissioner Mike Piper said that last year the league started later — July 28 — and therefore played games into early fall. The fall session is expected to end Sep. 28 this year, similar to last year’s delayed season.
There are about 90 players in the league this year, divided up into eight teams, which Piper said has increased the attendance of games and giving them a “new atmosphere.”
“It’s really creating a significant and obvious difference,” Piper said about the increase in players. “People have approached me about it often, about the difference in action at the field.”
In February, the City of Eastlake received a Crown Communities award for Miracle Park. The award was one of six nationwide given out by American City & County magazine.
Miracle League puts on various themes and activities in addition to the baseball games, such as an ice cream day or a picture day. Games are also attended by buddies, who are volunteers that assist the players, as well as other volunteers who help set up games, serve food, do cleanup and more.
So far, for both seasons, weather has been a cooperating factor.
“We have gone the entire season without a rain-out,” Piper said. “(And) we went the entire last season without a rain-out. Our weather has been fantastic.”
This year, a new pavilion was constructed next to the field along the third base line.
“The biggest thing coming out of year one that we recognized we needed was some shade,” Piper said. “Just for the fact that we’re not in a park or anything so there are no trees around and that surface isn’t grass... so it picks up a little bit of heat. That was one of the big off season goals, to take care of that.”
For next year, Piper talked about introducing some misting fans, which will be placed in the pavilion.
“We’ll have those misting fans at kind of the mouth of it and it’ll create a nice, large area where you can get out of the sun and cool off and still, at the same time, be in sight of the game,” he said.
Piper said, in summary, that he is pleased and that the league continues to grow. In a previous NewsHerald article, he stated that all but two of the athletes from the Miracle League were returning after last season.
“It was a big success all around,” he added. “But still, with a lot of ways to improve it, too.”
Opening day for the Miracle
“It was a big success all around. But still, with a lot of ways to improve it, too.” — Mike Piper, league commissioner
League’s fall session will be Aug. 17, according to the league website. Games are played on Saturdays at Miracle Park, at 35200 Vine St. in Eastlake.