NEW YORK—At this game, everyone's a winner. On Thursday, the Astor, NY Little League Challenger Team and the New Jersey District 8 Challenger Team faced off in a friendly feud in the outfield of historic Yankee Stadium.
The Challenger Game was a one-inning exhibition between two the teams from the Challenger Division – a division of Little League with players between the ages of 5 and 15 with mental or physical disabilities. But that didn't mean that the players didn't play their hearts out.
Each team sent 14 players to the plate to bat, and then switched sides to play defense in the other half of the inning. Players for both teams received overwhelming amounts of support – in the form of cheers, applause, and celebrations from their parents, coordinators, and spectators alike. Both the Astor and NJ District 8 team were thrilled to be playing in this once-in-a-lifetime game, and no player left the game today without a smile on his face.
"Playing at Yankee Stadium is a dream come true," said NJ District 8 Challenger Division director Marge Franco. "This is one of the best opportunities we'll ever have to expose people to the opportunities provided by the Challenger program."
Major League Baseball was thrilled to provide this experience for the players on both teams.
"This once in a lifetime opportunity that will allow these Little Leaguers with special needs a chance to enjoy the full benefits of Little League participation in an environment structured to their abilities," said MLB Vice President of Community Affairs Thomas Brasuell.
The Little Leaguers ecstatically swung bats at baseballs and ran around the bases without worry, as there were no outs recorded and "buddies" who would help the kids bat or run the bases accompanied them.
Little League umpire of 25 years Bob Pozner oversaw the game and summed up the general atmosphere.
"These kids are great," he said. "They deserve everything. The parents are great – especially what they do, it's phenomenal."
At the conclusion of the game, both teams lined up to high-five each other and posed for a team photo. Pozner joked, "I'm glad I didn't have to throw anyone out."
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