Miracle League All-Star Weekend memorable for two local families

Apopularsporting eventwas staged in downtownHouston earlierthis month. Athletesof various backgroundswere welcomed intoMinute Maid Park, eager topursue their passion and test theirskills on the baseball diamond.

TheWorld Series? Well, yeah.That was there that week,too.

AtlantaBraves fans aren’t the only ones still celebrating afterleaving “Space City.” MiracleLeague participants fromacross the country gathered there Nov. 5-7 for their AllStarGame, an annual tradition celebratingbaseball and the opportunityfor everyone to playthe sport.

TheMiracle League of the SouthHills, one of more than a half-dozenMiracle League chapterswithin about two hoursof Pittsburgh, sent two representativesto the event — MaceePeterson of South Park andJack Catena of Moon — andeach soaked up the experiencelike any major leaguer woulda trip to the “MidsummerClassic.”

Withplenty of family and friendsthere to support (and eagerto celebrate), Macee and Jackenjoyed a meet-and-greet atthe Astros ballpark on Friday;a day of baseball Saturday atthe Langham Creek YMCA; andan all-star gala, dinner and danceto cap things off that nightat the Marriott Marquis indowntown Houston.

“Maceeand Jack are two playerswe have so much joy watchinghere,” said Tim Gebhart,the executive director of theMiracle League of the SouthHills. “We knew they couldrepresent us well and be abright spot for the community,as they talked about wherethey come from and whothey are.”

MiracleLeague is a national nonprofitorganization that hasbeen around for two

Courtesy Miracle League of the South Hills Macee Peterson, of South Park, worked her way back from a knee injury and starred for the Dodgers during the Miracle League All-Star Game on Nov. 6. Also pictured are Miranda Klein and Tim Gebhart, the assistant director and executive director of the Miracle League of the South Hills.