Red Sox fielders ready to action.Warm weather and sunshine greeted Challenger Baseball players and their families to Opening Day at the Town of Sweden Park on Saturday, June 16. This is the second season for the Sweden/Clarkson teams, raising their number of players from 32 in 2011 to 41 in this 2012 season. Some 150 fans from parents to grandparents to neighbors to interested baseball friends gather at Nietopski Field every Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. to cheer on the players. On Saturday, June 23 the Sweden/Clarkson teams were scheduled to take on Webster at Frontier Field in Rochester. The season runs through July 28.
Challenger Baseball “Buddy” Jake Jurhs runs bases with Yankees player Maverick DeBuck.Challenger Baseball brings together boys and girls ages 5 to 18 who are physically and/or mentally challenged. Each player is accompanied on the field by a “buddy” to assist in the execution of hitting, running the bases and fielding activities. The Brockport Bisons Baseball teams have volunteered their time to assist as buddies. The enthusiasm and spirit that the Challenger player brings to the game is very infectious to “buddies” and fans alike. At the conclusion of each game, all Challenger Baseball players and “buddies” are treated to a hot dog and drink.
Evan Cavagnaro crosses home plate with encouragement of Brockport Bison “buddies.”There is no cost for the Challenger Baseball families due to donations by Reliant Community Credit Union and the Rochester Press-Radio Club. The Stetson Club of the Brockport Police Department will again this season provide an Ice Cream Social after one game.
Spectators are welcome to come out and see a game. “You may not see many baseballs flying over the fences, but you’ll see forty-one challenged athletes have great fun on a Saturday morning playing a game they all love,” says one of the organizers.
Red Sox player Jack Zyra focuses on a pitch at Challenger Baseball Opening Day.
Coach Charlie Hage helps Yankees player Ketchel Clements in the batter’s box.
