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Sports

Imperial Beach Little League Features Challenger Division for Special Needs Kids for the First Time

Twenty-one special needs children make up the Imperial Beach Little League's two Challengers teams, the first in the league's 56-year history.

The 2011 Imperial Beach Little League (IBLL) season is under way and its newest edition is a big hit with the community.

Thanks to Imperial Beach Elementary Special Education teacher Dawn Christopher and IBLL President Don Spicer, the league now offers a Challenger Division for the first time in the league's 56-year history.

“This is the first year our league has offered the Challenger Division,” Spicer said. “The community has responded very positively and the response from the parents has been overwhelming. I would like to see our league offer the Challenger Division every year.”

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There are two teams in the Challenger Division, the Sand Crabs and Bullduram.

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There are 10 kids on one team and 11 on the other. Players range in age from 5 to 10.

Christopher, who has taught special needs children in Imperial Beach for two decades, said players come from moderately to severely handicapped classes at Imperial Beach, Bayside, Mendoza and Oneonta Elementary schools.

“A lot of the kids out here are autistic, a good bit of them have Down syndrome,” she said. “There are two with a syndrome called Wolf-Hirschhorn.”

But that doesn’t slow down any of the children. The players were rambunctious in their first game, held March 10 on the T-ball field behind the IB Sports Park.

The teams warm up before the game by having each child run from base to base. A parent stands on each bag and encourages the kids to run to them. Some parents run alongside their child but several run on their own with a little motivation and direction from those standing on the field.

Then the teams line up on the first and third base lines and recite the Pledge of Allegiance and the Little League Code of Conduct.

During the game, parents stand next to each child. Players, coaches, parents or friends help kids run from base to base while Christopher helps each child bat.

“These players have a buddy system," Spicer said. "This consists of students from their school who come to their classroom. They have helped coach as well. The coaches are very dedicated people.”

After every player on one team has hit off the tee, they switch sides. Children on defense run after the ball but players always round home plate.

Challenger team games are the perfect scenario; there’s no rivalry and every player, parent and person at the game cheers for each player and the applause and smiles are continuous.

Spicer said the kids were so excited to be part of the team that many of them even practice in their classroom. He was even happier when he saw the reaction of everyone after the season opener.

“I feel good about the game because the kids had fun, and the parents did too,” Spicer laughed. “One kid didn’t even want to come out from behind the car but then he was running around all the bases. It’s like unlocking them with a special key.”

Spicer said things will pretty much stay the same for each game but he wants to slowly pull the parents off the field so the kids gain some independence.

But not all of the kids are shy.

Many were eager to make new friends. Kids from opposite teams ran together hand-in-hand. Most of the kids were more excited about making new friends than they were about baseball.

Newcomer Benjamin Navarro, 7, was one of the kids eager to make new friends. Navarro has played soccer since he was 3 but this is his first time playing baseball. He said he wants to be a baseball player when he grows up.

When asked who his favorite player was, he quickly wrapped his arms around the boy standing next to him and said, “My friend Max.”

Parents laughed and the two boys went running onto the field.

His friend Max Vazquez is also 7-years-old and is playing Little League for the first time as well.

Benjamin’s father, George Navarro, said he is excited the league has added the Challenger Division.

“I think it’s great. It gives them an opportunity to play and interact with everybody,” he said. “It gives them a sense of belonging; they feel like they’re part of something.

“They can’t play with others, but here they feel equal.”

Navarro is also a coach for the Bullduram team. He said he didn’t have any hesitations about his son playing baseball for the first time. Being around so many people wasn’t an issue either. He’s thrilled his son can be on a team and just enjoy himself.

“The best part is seeing him playing with other kids,” Navarro grinned. “Seeing him with a huge smile on his face. I just want him to have fun, interact with children and just enjoy his childhood.”

But it’s not just the players who have a great time.

“The parents are out here, they’re so thankful and the kids are having a blast,” Christopher said. “It's just a nice bonding time for the parents, for the kids to have some recreation and fun. I'm just really thankful that the league invited us to come.”

Spicer said he hopes the Little League offers the Challenger division every year.

“I think it is important for the community to come out and see these games,” he said. “They will see that these players are special; they are a special part of the community.  Everyone who sees the joy on these players’ and families’ faces will see what ‘special’ really is.”

The IBLL was formed in 1955 and has been 100 percent volunteer-run since then.

This year's league consists of two Challenger teams, four Majors teams, four Minors A division teams, a Minors B team of 6-year-olds, four T-ball teams and four waffle ball teams.

Challenger team practices are held every other Tuesday and games are every Thursday afternoon on the T-ball field directly behind the .

For more information visit the Imperial Beach Little League website.

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