Play Ball!

Miracle League of NWA's first game was this past Saturday, September 11th!  I will say that there was no better place to spend the anniversary of September 11th than at a ball park, watching kids excited to play baseball!  I definitely had a "choke back tears moment" while the national anthem was sang looking around at all those sweet kids, totally geared up for some ball.

I expected major chaos, but it wasn't!  We had lots of help, great coaches and buddies for the kids, and people who were there to just serve these kids in a way that allowed them to be successful, have fun, and play some baseball!  Many of these kids have never played on a sports team, or experienced a bleacher full of fans clapping for them!  It gave me chills!  We of course weren't without a few meltdowns and unhappy campers.  But it's new, it's busy....it will take time to get into the groove of this for some of the kids!  And that's fine!  Persistence pays off....so we'll keep trying to show them what Miracle League is all about....them having fun!

Here are some of my favorite pictures from the day!

Blowing up balloons!

The crowd!

First pitch thrown out by Mr. Harp!

Some serious cuteness!

The field and covered dug out.  It was hot, I was super glad the dugout had some shade!

Taking a quick picture break!

Devon looking cute!

Playing the field!

I love this little ball player!

My buddy Mike! 

Mike and I trying to hit the ball.  I wasn't really much help, he had it under control!

Matchy-matchy.  

Two Miracle League fans getting some sun burns and Bryan!  

Amber and Sam!

Amber getting a workout running with this little guy!

And here's Christie getting her workout! :)

I'm looking forward to this season and watching the kids get more confident and even more excited about their ball games!  Go Miracle League NWA!