Miracle League of Amherstburg baseball

By Kenneth Pastushyn

“Every Child Deserves a Chance to Play Baseball,” is the motto of Miracle Leagues throughout North

America, giving children with disabilities a chance the step up to the plate.

The Miracle League of Amherstburg played their next to last baseball game of the season on an

October morning and afternoon at the Libro Credit Union Centre Sports Complex. The Miracle League in

Amherstburg was the first in Canada and is one of only two in this country.

“When you have children and adults with special needs, it’s hard to find activities for them to

participate,” said Michele Vigneux, the public and media relations person for the Miracle League of

Amherstburg. “That’s why we have the Miracle League and Special Olympics.”

She said one of the cool things you get to see is the change in the players and their development. One

boy, when he first came here was in a wheelchair, – then a walker, – and now he’s walking.

“I got to see them from little squirts to teenagers and young adults,” said Vigneux.

The Miracle League of Amherstburg was organized in 2010 by the Rotary Club of Amherstburg. Since then, it has gone on

to become its own charity and raises money through activities such as raffles, sponsorships and golf

tournaments. Two years ago, with the support of a generous donor, a brand-new padded surface made

for wheelchairs and walkers was added to the Miracle Diamond playing field.

“The money we raise is for the children and we put it all back in the area,” said Brian McGee, the capital

projects director for the Miracle League of Amherstburg. He is responsible for making the Miracle

Diamond look like a minor league ballpark with lots of advertisements along the fences and flags at

centre field. His next project is wheelchair swings.

The Miracle Diamond also has a miniature Jumbotron video screen where every player has a bubble-

gum card-like photo for everyone to see before they step up to the plate. There is also an electronic

scoreboard, but every game ends in a tie. Every player who participates is a winner in the Miracle

League.

Every player also bats every inning, is safe on all the bases and scores a run before the inning is over.

Some of the players may need what is referred to as a “buddy” like Andrew Drury, a Grade 12 volunteer

student from Villanova High School, for assistance. His role as a buddy is to interact with the players as

well as to protect them.

“If they need our help we will give it to them,” said Drury. “But we try to let them do it themselves to

maximize their abilities.”

What Drury likes the most about being a buddy is playing catch with the players.

“Making them smile makes us smile.”

Chris McCandless is one of the many volunteers. For him, it is also a social event with other parents. He

and his wife have three sons participating this year. Usually he is the pitcher and lobs the ball to the

batters.

“It’s fun first, baseball second. It’s a good time,” said McCandless. “I enjoy coming out.”

The players also enjoy coming out. They enjoying hitting a soft rubber ball with an

oversized plastic bat and racing around the bases as well as the activities that take place during a three-

inning game.

At the start of a typical game, each player is given a mini-Canadian flag to wave on the field

while a Stompin’ Tom Connors song “Canada Day, Up Canada Way” is shown on the mini-jumbotron.

Throughout the game, Hunter, the mascot of the Miracle League, is on the field and in the dugouts to

greet the players with hugs and high fives as well as providing photo opportunities for friends and

family.

At the “second-inning stretch” it’s time for everyone to do the Y-M-C-A dance while a video of the

Village People singing their hit single plays on the mini-jumbotron.

And finally after the last batter scores the final run of the game, the public address announcer

encourages everyone to participate in the Chicken Dance. And participate they do. The emergency

medical service workers on hand can often be seen flapping their arms and “do-si-do-ing” around in

circles with the players on the field.

Both teams shake hands with each other along the first and third base lines while Jackie DeShannon’s hit

single “Put a Little Love in Your Heart” is heard over the PA system. After the game there is a barbeque

for the players where hot dogs are in big supply.

Vigneux thinks the program does a lot for everyone involved. “It’s baseball, it’s music and a whole lot

more.”