Miracle League of Michigan debuts for baseball players with special needs

 

By Deanna Rose

C & G Staff Writer

     It’s Saturday afternoon at a baseball game, and cheers erupt as 7-year-old Hope Sovran approaches the plate for her turn at bat. Fans grow even more excited when they hear the smack of contact and see the ball bounce down the field. Hope darts to first base, smiling and waving to her dad the whole way, and collects high-fives when she reaches her destination.

     But Hope isn’t running down the field — she’s wheeling herself down it.

     Hope, a first-grader at Bingham Farms Elementary School in Birmingham, was born with spina bifida. Technically, myelomeningocele is a spinal defect at the cord where, upon birth, the spinal cord isn’t in the spine, it’s in the skin.

     “Basically, she’s paralyzed from the waist down,” said her dad, Andrew Sovran.

     Normally, Hope might find it challenging to maneuver a wheelchair on a baseball diamond, but this isn’t your average league. The Miracle League allows physically and mentally challenged people ages 5 to 20 the chance to experience America’s favorite pastime on a “field” that accommodates wheelchairs and other assistive devices. Located in the Southfield Civic Center on Evergreen just south of I-696, the field is made of a cushioned synthetic turf and colored to resemble the dirt infield and grass outfield. Players hit a rubberized ball — either off a T-ball stand or pitched to them — with a wide plastic bat.

     “There’s something about playing the game of baseball that lights up youngsters’ eyes,” said Stephen Peck, chair of The Miracle League of Michigan. “However, playing baseball can be a challenge for children with physical and mental disabilities. The Miracle League gives these special children the opportunity to enjoy the fresh air and experience the pure joy of playing baseball. After all, every child deserves a chance to play baseball.”

     Matthew Knoll, 10, of Lake Orion, has cerebral palsy and loves baseball. His mom, Jan, said that he always wanted to play, but it’s hard to do so on a grass field.

     “This is a great opportunity for him to be part of something regular and organized,” she said. “And he’s having a really great time.”

     The league gives the kids confidence to try new things, and to be able to be part of a team. On this team, every player hits the ball and rounds the bases. No strikeouts, no outs — period. The boisterous unified support in the stands creates even wider smiles on the batters when they approach the plate and then score a run.

     Players are matched with “buddies” — able-bodied peers — who can assist them in batting, rounding the bases, and fielding. As long as they have the desire to play, it doesn’t matter if the sluggers have Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, spina bifida, or are autistic, deaf, or have any other condition that might prevent them from playing on a conventional league.

     Jon Gorczyca of West Bloomfield, a volunteer buddy on summer break from attending Michigan State University, said he wanted to help because he likes working with kids. He met and then was teamed up with Hope for the opening game, and said he was enjoying himself during the game.

     “She’s definitely the social butterfly of the team,” said Gorczyca.

     The Miracle League of Michigan consists entirely of volunteers, from the chairman and director to the coaches and buddies. The more than $500,000 needed to build the field in the Southfield Civic Center was raised and provided by sponsors.

     The requested registration cost for players is $45, including hats and shirts. Scholarships are available as needed. Miracle League players, buddies and volunteers may still sign up. Opening day will be at 5 p.m. June 28. Contact Stephen Peck at (248) 506-4604 or visit the Web site www.MichiganMiracle.org.

     You can reach Deanna Rose at drose@candgnews.com