Miracle League adapts baseball for kids with disabilities

From Forum Publishing Group in Florida:

After weeks of practice, West Pembroke Pines Optimist Miracle League players recently took to the field to begin their fourth season.

Proud parents packed the stands like at any little league game, but the Miracle League is a bit different as its players have conditions like cerebral palsy or Down syndrome.

To accommodate players' needs, the Miracle League plays its ball games on a special field at Rose G. Price Park, 901 NW 208th Ave.

The rubberized field is designed to allow players to use wheelchairs, and it's painted green and white to create the appearance of grass and base striping.

The program has grown over the last four years, with six new players signed up for this season, said Mary Wilson Palacios, the city's special population coordinator. Players come from across South Broward, as well as Miami-Dade.

``It's open to the community,'' Palacios said. ``You don't have to be a Pembroke Pines resident.''

Chris Redfern's 13-year-old son, Christopher, is one of the new players starting out with the league. He has mild cerebral palsy but isn't wheelchair bound. Redfern heard about the league because his son is enrolled in other special-needs programs run by Palacios.

``They've made it easy to get him adapted into the program,'' said Redfern of Pembroke Pines.

Barry Hadler, also a Pines resident, heard about the league through Palacios' other programs. His 11-year-old son, Michael, has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair, but he's a big baseball fan -- especially of the Florida Marlins. Hadler said he feels fortunate that the league exists.

``It's a godsend,'' Hadler said. ``It gives kids a chance to interact with other kids and experience things they wouldn't experience otherwise.''

For players who need assistance, a volunteer helps escort them to each base. For the league's opening game, volunteers from Flanagan High School provided that service. Those interactions help build friendships, said Mario Salceda, the team's head coach.

``They're learning how to make a difference in the lives of others,'' Salceda said of the volunteers.

When he's not coaching, Salceda works for Memorial Healthcare System, which sponsors the league through Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital. The hospital's contributions cover the cost for uniforms, as well as make the program free for players.

Hollywood resident Clark Stanway has been bringing his son Tanner, now 14, to the league since almost the beginning.

Tanner has a mild case of Down syndrome, and a speech impediment prevented him from learning how to speak until two years ago. He's an active participant of the league, and he also is part of swimming and soccer teams.

Stanway, a former youth coach, said the league's staff keeps things running smoothly.

"These coaches know how to deal with the kids," Stanway said.