Challenger division gets kids into the game
There’s no score, unless you want to count smiles in which case the usual result is a million-to-million tie every Saturday at Lions Park.
The Challenger baseball division isn’t your usual Little League experience, designed for kids who couldn’t otherwise run the basepaths, throw or hit like some of their peers.
Now in its second year, more than 20 youth are taking part in the program, with help from Medicine Hat Adaptive Sport and Recreation.
“This has been an amazing experience, just the fact the kids are getting an opportunity to play baseball,” said Derek Whitson, a Paralympic sledge hockey player who’s volunteered to help the Challenger division. “A lot of these kids haven’t had that experience before.”
Kids like Reuben Thomas are a big reason why Whitson wants to help. The six-year-old has tons of energy, but being in a wheelchair he wouldn’t be able to play ball on a standard team.
The six-year-old throws a ball with two hands, and he can swing a bat, but the ball wouldn’t go too far. This year, thanks to a grant from the Toronto Blue Jays’ Jays Care Foundation, all Thomas has to do is hit a button and the pneumatic BatSwinger uses compressed gas to swing for him.
“Without this device participants would require assistance to swing the bat,” said Tara Chisholm, local adaptive sport coordinator, via press release. “Therefore, this device allows more independence so that all players can hit the ball on their own.”
The result? Maybe not a home run, but pretty much guaranteed smiles.
In the field, buddy players from other Little League teams help out, teamed with Challenger players for help getting around the bases, stopping hard-hit balls from hurting anybody and whatever else is asked of them.
“It is a little bit different rules, we definitely adapt to everyone’s ability,” said Whitson. “It’s awesome to see them giving back and seeing the ball community coming together.”
Fans are always invited to cheer on the Challenger participants from 12-1 p.m. every Saturday in Lions Park. Challenger ball will also stage a showcase game during the Canadian Little League Championships in August.