This piece originally appeared in:
Triangle Sports, Fall 2018
The founders of the Miracle League believe that baseball truly is the people’s sport, and it should be accessible to everyone. Founded in Conyers, Ga., in April 2000, the mission of the Miracle League is to create an environment where children with disabilities can take part in America’s pastime in a fun, safe environment. Each player is partnered with an able-bodied “buddy,” and the field is made from a rubberized turf that allows wheelchairs and other assistive devices while helping prevent injuries. Now all kids and their parents can relax and enjoy an afternoon of baseball.
TAKING TO THE TRIANGLE
With the success of the original Miracle League, the program started spreading to other cities around the country. The model is repeatable and there are kids
longing for programs like this everywhere. Today, there are approximately 300 Miracle League organizations serving more than 200,000 children throughout the U.S., Australia, Canada and Puerto Rico. Miracle League made its way to the Triangle in the mid-2000s.
“In 2004, after watching a television program about the national Miracle League, local businessmen Robin Rose and Tony Withers were inspired
to establish the Miracle League of the Triangle,” recalls Benjy Capps, executive director of Miracle League of the Triangle. “The goal was simple – provide children with special needs the opportunity to play America’s favorite pastime. Their hope was to have 40 children and 100 volunteers for opening day.”
It turned out the community was more eager for this program than the founders imagined. When Miracle League of the Triangle opened its first season in September 2006, more than 100 children and 200 volunteers took part. Andy’s Foundation Field at Adams Elementary School in Cary, N.C., hosted its inaugural game. That spark ignited the program onto a path of expansion and growth throughout the area.
“Less than eight years after the program began, a second field was built in north Raleigh,” Capps says. “Between the two locations we serve nearly 400 players with special needs on 30 teams each season. In the spring of 2015, we expanded our program to include an adult league and competitive camp. About 4,000 volunteer opportunities exist each year.”
There are few things more distinctly American than a game of baseball. For most, it evokes memories of warm summer afternoons at the ballpark and games of catch in the backyard. Most of us take for granted being able to pick up a bat and ball and go out and play, but for children with physical and mental disabilities, it often isn’t so easy.
A LEAGUE OF STORIES
As executive director, Capps oversees the operations of Miracle League of the Triangle, but his connection to the program is much deeper than simply management and administration. He saw the incredible positive impact of the Miracle League firsthand.
“My son started playing in the league in 2007, and I began coaching then,” Capps explains. “I took over as executive director in 2014.”
As someone who has experienced the Miracle League as a parent, coach and director, Capps has a deep understanding of the program’s benefits and the positive impact it can have on the lives of children and parents.
“For our players, they have a chance to be part of a team and to take part in a sport they didn’t know they’d be able to do. It gives kids the confidence to try new things. It gives them the opportunity to get physical activity and develop good, healthy habits,” Capps says. “For parents, they get a chance to be part of a community where their kid is part of something – where they fit in. They get to cheer for their child and be an advocate for other players and families.”
Miracle League of the Triangle also provides an extremely rewarding experience for those who choose to volunteer their time. “Our volunteers often tell us they get so much more out of this than the players do,” Capps says. “Many have told us that the players have taught them more than they have taught the players.”
It would be easy to focus on the growth and success of Miracle League of the Triangle as an organization. It has grown at a rapid pace and engaged an enormous number of people in the community in the years it has been in existence. But the true success of the program is in the individual lives it has touched.
“We are a league of stories that happen every single week,” Capps says. “It might be the player who has been in a wheelchair his whole life and works with his therapist so he can run the bases with the help of his walker on Mother’s Day. Maybe it’s the player playing catch with their dad for the first time after a season and a half; or the buddy who had a player in their wedding as maid of honor; or the player who broke his leg at school, didn’t tell anyone and still played the game that night. The stories are what we are about.”
PART OF A TEAM
It is the power of those individual lives touched by Miracle League that propels its growth and keeps it forging on into the future. As the number of children, parents and volunteers continues to grow, Miracle League of the Triangle is planning to keep up.
“We are in the process of designing a field in downtown Durham,” Capps says. “Our goal was always to have three fields spanning the Triangle. With our fields in north Raleigh and Cary, this will allow us to reach that target. Our ultimate goal is to have 1,000 players each season.”
To parents of children with special needs who might be considering involvement in Miracle League, and to potential volunteers looking for an enriching experience, Capps employs the classic Nike slogan, “Just do it!” Involvement provides enrichment to the program, as well as to those who take part.
“We always need volunteers as we grow. We utilized a lot of volunteers. Each team has five to six coaches and all the players have a buddy with them during the game,” Capps says. “For the players, we are focused on making sure they have a great time and get to experience the joy of baseball. We are proud of the everyday impact we have on our community and the smiles we get to see every game after giving our players a chance to be part of a team.”
To learn more about Miracle League of the Triangle, visit miracleleagueofthetriangle.com. Here you can find out how to volunteer, donate, sign your children up to participate and much more.
