By Matt Suttmiller (JMU '08)

Last Wednesday's games at Long Field/Mauck Stadium might have been some of the biggest games ever played on campus, at least in these kids' eyes.  During finals week, JMU players came out to support Challenger Baseball, a Bridgewater Community Little League. 

The league, which began in 2001, is a division of Little League Baseball for children ages 5-18 who have physical or mental conditions that prevent safe participation in other baseball programs.  Each kid is partnered up with a buddy, in this case a JMU baseball player, and they play a two-inning game that lasts approximately an hour where each player gets to bat twice.  While the players have different backgrounds, they have one commonality, when they are out on the diamond interacting with the players they wear an ear-to-ear smile.

"This is my first time being out here with Challenger Baseball," said assistant coach Josiah Jones, who joined the JMU coaching staff this season.  "It's a great thing to be out here to give back to the community and to get a chance to be a part of something special.  It makes you as a person and us as a team appreciate how blessed we really are.  I think the biggest thing is how these kids bless us more than we bless them.  There is more to life than baseball and you can see it with all their smiles."

Smile is all the kids do while they are out here.  M.J., part of the younger division, ran circles around Matt Browning in the outfield until he couldn't stand any longer.  Takoda, part of the younger division as well, just wanted to hit off the tee with Steven Caseres until he was forced to leave.  And Chase seemed to be so comfortable with co-captain Kurt Houck, they acted like they have known each other all their lives.  "This game is something I look forward to every year," said Houck.  "You don't mind taking a few hours out of your day to put a smile on these kids' faces.  They have a blast out here and so do you." 

Added co-captain Joe Lake, "These games make you realize you can't take things for granted.  It's good for us to get away from the games and school to come out here and help these kids have a fun experience.  We definitely enjoy it and I know these kids do too."

Enjoying the game is all that matters to these kids.  There is no score kept in the games and play is structured to allow all players to be involved as they are able.  Traditional rules are modified and the focus is always on having fun while learning the game of baseball.  Children who live within the Turner Ashby, Broadway, Spotswood, and Harrisonburg High School district, as well as neighboring Augusta and Shenandoah Counties are eligible to play in Bridgewater's Challenger Program.

For more information on Challenger Baseball, or if you are interested in getting your child involved, please contact Philip and Sue Hutchinson (540-828-3502 or hutchisl@jmu.edu) or Jack and Becky Martin (540-879-2380 or martinjg@jmu.edu).  You can also check out the league website.