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Everyone Wins: Welcome To The Miracle League
March 19, 2012
Every game ends in a tie. Every player hits; every player scores. There are no strikeouts, no errors. Everybody wins.
Welcome to the Miracle League.
Olivia Bush, 8, of Cantonment is blind, able to see just a little light with her left eye. She suffered frequent seizures until a portion of her brain was removed in February of 2010 at Miami Children’s Hospital. During the surgery, doctors removed a seven centimeter portion of her brain — basically taking out the bad, non-functioning portion and leaving behind the good, healthy tissue. She has been seizure-free since and has become much more independent.
But Saturday morning on the Miracle League field on Nine Mile Road, Olivia (pictured left) was just a regular kid…playing first base and, with the help of a buddy, getting a strong hit toward center field.
“It means a lot to Olivia to be able to participate in a sport,” mom Amber Bush said as she watched Olivia play. “It means a lot to us as parents to see her play.”
For a photo gallery, click here.
“I still tear up at times,” Miracle League volunteer Packy Mitchell said Saturday morning as he watched the kids of the Miracle League.
It’s a baseball league for disabled and special needs persons of all ages. Some of the players are in wheelchairs and walkers. Some handicaps are mental, some are physical. It’s a place for miracles.
In the end, the first game of the year between the Rockies and the Phillies was tied, just as every game has ended in a tie for the past 11 seasons. The stats for each of the 100 plus players will be the same at the end of the season — perfect.
Players and volunteers come from not just Pensacola, but Mobile, Crestview, Brewton and points in between. Everybody is a volunteer that participates with the Miracle League. The are paid only in smiles.
“On my Saturdays this time of the year, I’m here,” Mitchell said. “It’s the best thing for kids that I’ve every been totally involved in.”
“The smiles on their faces just makes it all worth it,” he added.
Each of the two Pensacola Miracle League fields is made up of 180,000 pounds of recycled tires formed into tiles painted to match a regular field. It provides a softer landing spot for a hard fall, while still providing a good bounce for the hollow core ball that is also designed to lesson injury potential.
The Miracle League needs more volunteers to serve as buddies, work the concession booth, pickup trash and many more tasks around their area of the Nine Mile Road ballpark.
The public is always welcome and encouraged to cheer on the players.
For more information on Miracle League, or to volunteer, visit www.miracleleaguepensacola.org.
For a photo gallery, click here.
Pictured top: A buddy helps a Miracle League of Pensacola player take a swing at the ball Saturday morning. Pictured top inset: Olivia Bush of Cantonment, who is blind, up to bat for the Diamondbacks. Pictured bottom inset: A player for the Cubs scores. Pictured below: A Miracle League player watches the ball while playing catch in the dugout. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
14 Responses to “Everyone Wins: Welcome To The Miracle League”
As I read the article it has brought tears to my eyes. You are precious people. I know this takes away from your own family’s to organize something like this,but I know just one smile from one of those children makes it all worth it. I thank God for people like you guys. Keep up the great work and God Bless!!!
Thank you William for the coverage at the Miracle League. This is truly a SPECIAL PLACE FOR SPECIAL PEOPLE!!!! WE have a wonderful group of volunteers, coaches, parents and most of all PLAYERS. I urge everyone to stop in and see for youselves the joy and happiness that this organization offers to all envolved. Join us as abuddy and I promise your life will truly be blessed!!!!!
Kudos to everyone who is involved with this league. You are all very special people.
whenever i read this story all i could do is smile!!!like someone else sayd angels are among us!!
My son played several seasons on Miracle League…it was and still is an awesome organization!!!
My son plays for the Dodgers!!! The team players and coaches are GREAT!!!
Wonderful article!
Wow.If this article doesn’t touch you.nothing will.God bless all involved.
As a mother and a Christian – I was moved to tears reading this article. Thank you so so much to all of you who have made this possible for all of these wonderful children. My two children have played baseball all of their lives and we parents of children – who do not have special needs take for granted all of the practices and all of the busy busy baseball nights. When we run tired and in 20 different directions – we need to remember these wonderful gifts from God who just love to be part of all american tradition – Baseball. Thank you again to all of you who help – I will be checking into a way to volunteer after I write this letter. God Bless you !!!
This story warms my heart and shows there are angels among us! This is absolutely amazing and I appreciate this story!
This is Awesome, great idea. Can’t wait to watch some of the games and Cheer on everbody!!
Words cannot express how much this article means to our players at Miracle League of Pensacola. We have a genuine pride in our park and are so blessed to be part of an organization who gives so much and believes in miracles! Thank you for your kind words and for visiting our facility. We hope you come back again…bring your friends!
This is a place where you can truly watch Miracles happen! These children can teach you so so much!!
this is the great thing i play on the team and i love it thank all who made this posiable
come and watch us play we are number one thanks for the buddys they are great
we need buddys so come out.