Rising to the Challenge; Tuscarawas County Challenger Little League brings baseball to children with special needs

  • By Victoria Frank
  • July 19, 2011
  • 630
Rising to the Challenge; Tuscarawas County Challenger Little League brings baseball to children with special needs
Rising to the Challenge; Tuscarawas County Challenger Little League brings baseball to children with special needs
Rising to the Challenge; Tuscarawas County Challenger Little League brings baseball to children with special needs
                        
It all began last summer, when Dan McCauley’s son Logan had a strong desire to play his favorite sport, but was limited because of his autism. With the help of some friends, McCauley and his son, as well as Janine Garber, decided to start the Tuscarawas County Challenger Little League, based out of Bolivar. The league is associated with Little League International and allows kids with special needs to become involved in organized baseball, just like any other child. “We had talked about it for several years and last year, we just decided it was time to actually make it happen,” explained Garber. “We worked with the existing Challenger League in Canton and other people within our district, all of which helped us form the Challenger Little League in Tuscarawas County.” Open to any child through high school age with physical limitations or an Individual Education Plan at any school in the county, the league allows every child to succeed based on his or her own ability. The league utilizes what they call “buddies” for children that need a little extra assistance hitting the ball or rounding the bases. A buddy can be a parent, brother, sister or anyone who wants to become involved and volunteer their time. “The need came with a friend of ours and with Logan, but what we found was there were all sorts of parents looking for this opportunity for their kids,” Garber said. “They might have played the first couple of years within the regular Little League program, but the older they got, the more competitive it became and the less fun it was for special needs kids.” And what began as about 10 kids two years ago has blossomed into 20 or so active Little Leaguers, with more signing up for next season. “We will be looking for even more teams and we’re hoping we can have multiple fields located throughout the county,” Garber said. Currently, the Challenger Little League is sponsored by the Bolivar Baseball & Softball Association, which allows the team to use a field and assists with equipment. The Tuscarawas County league plays against the Canton league twice a week, once at home and once away. Although this year’s regular season has ended, with the final home game July 13 and the last away game July 15, tournaments are on their way. Each year, the Challenger organization picks one location in Ohio to hold tournaments, and on Saturday and Sunday, July 22-23, the games will be played in Tallmadge. In order to celebrate the end of another season though, the Tuscarawas County Challenger League hosted their season-ending celebration called, A Grand Finale: A Home Run for All, at their last home game. Volunteers and spectators showed up in numbers, alongside Andy the Armadillo from Texas Roadhouse. The restaurant also helped prepare hot dogs for hungry fans and players. The Bolivar Baseball & Softball Association members showed up to create a tunnel for excited Little Leaguers to run through prior to the start of the game and according to Garber, “It was just a neat time.” And the benefits of involving children in such an organization goes beyond just getting outside and enjoying the summer weather. Garber explained that parents have found their children to become more social, talking and interacting more so than they did at the beginning of the season. “(The league) gives them a chance to do something that they not only enjoy, but something to feel like every other kid,” Garber said. For anyone interested in next year’s season, registration for the Tuscarawas County Challenger Little League begins late January or early February, practices run through March and April, and games officially start in May. Information can be found online at the organization’s website, http://www.tusc-challenger.com. Team members include Clayton Flaherty, Bryce Goedel, Michael Ferrebee, Corie Downer, Allison Roth, Faith Williams, Conner DiGenova, Tyler Meek, Lexi Lacheta, Shiyanne Westhafer, Austin McGinnis, Bailey McGinnis, Chelsea Gardner, Emily Paige, Kenny Logan, Bailey Sites, Max Burnham, Logan McCauley, Seth Oberholzer, and Elise Thompson.


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