Miracle League of Arizona – Every Kid Can Play Ball!

Click here for 2007 Miracle League of Arizona Stakeholder Recruitment Drive Flyer

Click here for a 2007 Miracle League of Arizona Brochure

Miracle League of Arizona is interested in promoting special needs baseball, anywhere and anyway it is played in Arizona.

This means that if we can recommend City of Surprise Bambino Buddy Ball / Miracle League to an athlete, we’ll do so every time it is appropriate to do so. 

We’re doing so for the City of Phoenix in the Reach 11 facility as well and likewise, we’re interested in seeing a Miracle League of Arizona field built in North Scottsdale.  The Scottsdale Unified School District / the City of Scottsdale has already provided the land – it’s up to us to use it.

We’re first promoting the sport of baseball for the special needs community – and tonight at Dream Catcher Park, the reasons why came through. 

One of the athletes last year used crutches to move between the bases; this year he’s decided that the crutches are too much of a hindrance and has now, through sheer determination, begun running the bases on his own, without the use of crutches. 

His Dad has told me it’s what he said he wants to do, because of Miracle League – he wants to run the bases without the crutches.

Another athlete that has been with us since last season was always too shy to connect with players and coaches; now because of the socialization / interaction that sports promotes / allows / demands, she was just a little chatterbox tonight, talking to everyone and just beaming as she ran the bases. 

Her Mom commented on it tonight as they were leaving the field it was because her involvement in these programs.

I’m not sure I knew all the benefits that came out of Miracle League when we started years back, but I do now – these kids develop physically, mentally and socially because of their involvement. 

I’m proud to be a part of it.

We want you, as a supporter of Miracle League to add your voice to ours – sign-on as a stakeholder today; fill out the 2007 Miracle League of Arizona Stakeholder Recruitment Drive form and mail / fax it in, send us an email with your contact information (name, email address, phone, mailing, etc.)  We are asking that you allow us to count you among the supporters of special needs baseball in Arizona.

Donate if you can, share your time if you can; What we want right now is your heart – your voice, speaking in unison with ours when it comes to special needs baseball in Arizona.

Gene Udvare and I were able to visit yesterday with the outgoing Mayor of the City of Surprise, Mayor Joan Shafer and to make a small presentation to congratulate the city on their 2007 inaugural season, to thank her for the vision and support for special needs kids in the Valley of the Sun and for recognizing Miracle League of Arizona and our contribution to the effort.

Our understanding, and the way she told the story, is that it was the Mayors Office who initiated the plan to build Dream Catcher Park. 

Over five years and many discussions and debates in the city council chambers over funding and focus, it was the Mayors Office who carried the banner of the field forward to completion.  Dream Catcher Park is truly the crown-jewel of the special needs baseball network in Arizona.

Miracle League or Arizona had contact with the Mayors Office in the early stages of the projects development; it was the very same HBO video that launched a thousand leagues that launched this field development effort and it was the same interest in benefiting the special needs community that saw both efforts come to bear in the State of Arizona.

Miracle League of Arizona continues to promote special needs baseball in the state of Arizona and we’re happy to have recognized Mayor Shafer for her vision, her support and her dedication in seeing this field made into reality for the special needs community in the Northwest Valley.

The end of season is here and with it, the a combination of relief, sorrow and anticipation; releif because Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday nights are back to spend with family and friends and for us, not having to drive 29 miles round trip at rush hour to be with the teams, sorrow because the community we enjoy in Miracle League is dissipating, but anticipation because we can see how the fall season will be even bigger and better!

The pictures tell it all but the final practice, the final game and the big community BBQ blowout after the leap…

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The years of hoping, wanting, waiting, and wishing will be over soon – Arizona will have a special needs baseball facility beginning March 24, 2007 at 10:30A.  WWWAAAAAAHHHHHOOOOO!!!!!! Pop the cork on the champagne….

The journey to this point has been sometimes ardous, sometimes blessed and always amazing.  After seeing the Real Sports segment Frank Deford did on Miracle League, Mike McGuire and Ken Staudenmayer asked a number of us to a meeting in Ken’s living room.  We wondered and talked about the viability of building a Miracle League field in Scottsdale.  Scottsdale provided a site first and we’re still hoping and trying to raise the funds to build that field (so think about getting a shirt or hat in our on-line store at CafePress - nickles matter…) 

We had some progress, but one day Paul Frie asked if we might talk more with City of Surprise, to see where the connections might be.  From there to here, we’ve always been available to support the City of Surprise effort – and now it’s here.

Last night the first flight of players, buddies and coaches met at the library.  We move there due to the wonderful rain that came in late yesterday.  Less people than we had hoped, more than enough to get the league going.  Paul conducted the meeting and here’s what he shared regarding the event on Saturday -

• 10A – Ceremonies begin - expecting the Mayor of Surprise and dignitaries from stakeholders and the people who made the dream possible – the Surprise Sundancers especially.
• 10:30A First pitch / pitches and then innings of lots of fun and a dream caught in flight – Dreamcatcher Park is born.

Here’s what Paul shared with us regarding operations form the first season Practices are Tuesdays or Thursdays evenings and starting April 1st, games every Saturday at 6:30P under the lights.  The inaugural season is eight (8) weeks.

Lastly, athletes were handed uniforms for the first two teams – the Rangers and the Royals, who’s big league counterparts conduct spring training across the street.  Coaches were appointed; ‘Buddy’ Dunn and Christy Thau and then we all went over to view the new field – a little wet from the rain, but still amazing (you can see the pictures here).

So now the field is here, opening day is around the corner and YOU, your special needs athlete and all the buddies can play baseball… let the blessings of heaven rain down on ALL our children…. AND PLAY BALL!!!!

(By The Way – teams are STILL open – come signup at the Miracle League table on Saturday)