Remember when you played Little League baseball? If you close your eyes you can probably recall many wonderful memories — the sweet crack of the bat, the roar of the crowd, the smell of a new leather glove broken in just right, flying around the bases trying to score the winning run, the smiling faces of your teammates as you celebrate, win or lose, another day of fun. For many of us, playing Little League baseball was the first time we were part of a team and our first experience with organized sports.
Now imagine that you are in a wheelchair, or blind, or mentally challenged. Imagine as your brothers, sisters and friends are taken to the park in new uniforms awaiting their turn on the field. Imagine for a moment the pain of knowing you would never get a chance at the plate. For too many children in Madison there is no need to imagine, this is their reality. Well, that’s about to change.
West Madison Little League, in partnership with the Madison West Kiwanis and guidance from Easter Seals, is starting Madison’s first ever Challenger Little League Program. Little League’s Challenger Division was established in 1989 and aims to give mentally and physically challenged boys and girls the opportunity to enjoy the full benefits of participation in a Little League program structured to their abilities. The Challenger Division will accommodate participants ages 8 to 16. In addition to learning the game of baseball, the value of the Little League Challenger Division is found in the proven therapeutic and socialization benefits of participating in sports; the strengthening of participants’ self-esteem; and the disciplines of teamwork, sportsmanship and fair play.
The Challenger Division provides the framework so that Little League programs may offer a structured, athletic activity for all youth in their community. Playing with the same uniforms and equipment on the same fields, Challenger Division participants have the opportunity to experience the joys of pulling together as a team, being cheered, and earning awards for their achievements.