Transcript
TAYLOR MASCETTA: IT’S OPENING DAY FOR CHALLENGER BASEBALL, AND A HISTORIC NUMBER OF PLAYERS ARE HITTING THE FIELD. 250 ARE SET TO PLAY THIS YEAR! THE TEAM IS THE LARGEST LITTLE LEAGUE PROGRAM IN THE COUNTRY FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. CHALLENGER BASEBALL GIVES ALL OF THESE KIDS A CHANCE TO HIT THE MOUND AND PLAY BALL! EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DOM CAMBARERI, SAYS THE STYLE OF PLAY IS SUITED FOR EVERYONE.
DOM CAMBARERI: EVERYBODY HITS, EVERYBODY RUNS, EVERYBODY SCORES, EVERYBODY THROWS AND CATCHES THE BALL
TAYLOR MASCETTA: THE SYRACUSE SPARTANS ARE A LOCAL BASEBALL TEAM THAT OFTEN VOLUNTEER AT THE CHALLENGER GAMES. PITCHER LUKE BOULE SAYS THAT EACH CHALLENGER GAME BRINGS A SMILE TO HIS FACE.
LUKE BOULE: THEY PLAY THE GAME SO HAPPILY HERE. NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, THEY’RE ALWAYS SMILING, LAUGHING, CRACKING JOKES.
TAYLOR MASCETTA: THE PLAYERS CAN’T GET ENOUGH. JORDAN KUNEGO HAS COMPETED WITH THE CHALLENGERS FOR OVER TEN YEARS. HER MOM, JODI, EMPHASIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE LEAGUE FOR JORDAN.
JODI KUNEGO: IT’S THE BEST THING, BECAUSE BEFORE SHE STARTED PLAYING, SHE DIDN’T WANT TO GO OUTSIDE, OR DO ANY SPORT. I FORCED HER TO COME THAT FIRST YEAR, AND AFTER THAT… ‘MOM, MOM, WHEN’S BASEBALL? WHEN’S BASEBALL? WHEN’S BASEBALL?
TAYLOR MASCETTA: CHALLENGER BASEBALL IS IN ACTION ALL SUMMER. UNTIL NEXT TIME, TAYLOR MASCETTA, NCC SPORTS.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – Play ball!
Syracuse Challenger Baseball is back for its 32nd year in play. The Challengers opened their season on Tuesday night.
Challenger Baseball is the largest Little League program suited for children and adults with special needs in the country. A historic 250 players will take the field this season.
Executive director Dom Cambareri is excited about the league’s continual growth. He says that the Challengers’ style of play is suited for everyone — for instance, players receive unlimited pitches until they make a hit. That way, they’ll always make it to base safe.
A couple of players hopped over home plate in excitement.
“Everybody hits, everybody runs, everybody scores!” Cambareri said.
The Syracuse Spartans are a local collegiate-league baseball team that often volunteers at the Challengers’ games. Pitcher Luke Boule joined the Spartans two years ago, and says the Challengers bring a smile to his face every time he helps out.
“They play the game so happily here,” Boule said. “No matter what happens, they’re always smiling, laughing, [or] cracking jokes.”
The Syracuse Spartans spend time bonding with the players.
The players can’t get enough of the game, often dancing at bases or gleefully leaping over home plate. Jorden Kunego is one of these players — she’s been a Challenger for over 10 years. Her mom, Jodi Kunego, is grateful for the opportunities that Challenger Baseball has offered Jorden.
“Before she started playing, she didn’t want to go outside or do any sport,” Kunego said. “I forced her to come that first year, and after that, [she’d say], ‘Mom, Mom! When’s baseball? When’s baseball?'”
Kunego emphasized the importance of the Challenger League for Jorden and her friends.
Challenger Baseball plans on building additional fields for more games.
“It’s amazing because, if you have a wheelchair, you can still navigate the field,” she said. “If you’re blind, we have a beeper ball so you can play. There’s no reason why they can’t play anymore.”
Cambareri says there are plans in place for further expansion — soon, Challenger Baseball will have seven areas to play on. Challenger Baseball’s season runs throughout the summer, with games on Tuesdays and Thursdays.