Base-clearing home runs, spectacular bobbled catches and a healthy dose of baseball superstition provided for a traditional afternoon of baseball Saturday, Oct. 6. Less ordinary was the opportunity provided for over 100 children with disabilities and adults to play nine innings of baseball.
The Miracle League of Tuscaloosa, a local nonprofit, provides four games for a variety of young and old special needs players on away-game Saturdays during their fall season at Sokol Park North. The league, founded two years ago, acts as a branch of the Miracle League founded in Rockdale County, Ga., in 1997.
At the small park, featuring a synthetic rubber diamond as well as the expected bleachers, dugouts and scoreboard, ballpark mainstays blared over loudspeakers broken up only by a crackling drawl providing play-by-plays.
“Wha-ho, that’ll be his third home run on the day. Good on ‘em,” Jeff Walker said.
Walker, of Tuscaloosa, wears many hats for the league: play-by-play announcer, co-founder, vice-president and supportive grandfather.
Walker said he was turned onto the idea when his daughter, who lived in Pell City with her autistic son, Bradley, found a park in Moody providing an opportunity for special needs kids to play baseball through the Miracle League label.
He and John Miller, co-founder and league president, worked together for the Tuscaloosa Fire and Rescue Department and decided to work toward creating a Miracle League for Tuscaloosa.
“It’s the only way most of these kids could play a team sport,” Walker said. “And it gives them motivation, something to look forward to.”
Walker recalled often hearing from his beaming grandson mid-week, “We gonna play ball Saturday?” He assured Bradley they would.
Community children and volunteers serve as “buddies” to assist the players on the field, and according to Miracle League rules, all players bat each inning, all base runners are safe, every player scores a run each inning, and each team and each player wins every game.
Walker said it was their players’ requests that brought about the two later semi-competitive and competitive team games. The earlier two games are split by age, from birth to 6 years of age and 7 to 12 years old.
“It’s the only place you can come see a game and hear no arguing,” Walker said. “Just baseball and a good time.”
Though few on the field were locked into serious game faces, most wore broad grins through all nine innings. Good-natured gibes and distracting calls and chants streamed from players and coaches on the field and from the opposing dugout.
“Set me free! Get me out of here!” called a runner stranded at second base after two outs. Despite the fielder’s collective assurances that he wouldn’t be, a sharp line drive brought him home with a few “na-na na-na boo-boo’s.”
Shea Zizzi has been attending games in support of her son Brad for two years while also volunteering her time working their concession stand.
“It’s a great league,” Zizzi said. “I wish we could get more kids playing.”
She said the league far surpassed her expectations and has provided an avenue for her son to both make friends and to feed his love of baseball. The UA baseball team paid a visit to a game last month, which Zizzi recalled being a huge joy for their players.
April Phillips of Tuscaloosa attended her first Miracle League game Saturday. She and her 13-year-old grandson Destin came in support of Brad, with Destin sporting a Miracle League uniform with the number 13 and “Brad’s Friend” written across the back.
She said though she knew Brad’s group to be in a competitive league, she was impressed by not only how competitive, but also how supportive the players were.
“They really put a lot of effort into it, they challenge themselves,” Phillips said. “They make me realize I don’t challenge myself enough.”
Phillips said she’d certainly return in support, and said she would attempt to bring her younger grandson Maddox and others out to the games.
“It’s just inspiring,” Phillips said. “I think everyone should see this.”
