Miracle League hits grand slam with event
CRANBERRY TWP — A celebration of community.
Now in its 10th season, the Miracle League of Southwestern PA hosted its first All-Star Game Saturday night at Graham Park.
The league gives children and adults with developmental disabilities the opportunity to play baseball.
Players ages 5 to 18 from Miracle Leagues in Cranberry, Murrysville, Indiana, Altoona, the South Hills, Wheeling, Morgantown, Moon, Dubois and Manatee County in Florida converged upon the field at Graham Park for a daylong baseball carnival.
“I never thought it would come to this ... I never envisioned this,” said Mike Sherry, Miracle League president and founder. “This whole journey started in 2007 when my wife (Chris) and I had a child diagnosed with autism.
“We felt like she and every kid should have the opportunity to play America's game and that's baseball. Honestly, whether we had two kids do it or 200, we felt like it'd be successful.”
The Miracle League made its debut at Graham Park in 2009 with 138 players. The Cranberry-based league had 500 players this year.
Cranberry had 67 players involved in Saturday's activities, including 15 in the All-Star Game. There were also five exhibition games and a Pittsburgh Pirates Fantasy Camp held during the course of the day.
Pirates Charities heavily support the Miracle Leagues throughout the region. Team owner Bob Nutting, manager Clint Hurdle, pitchers Steven Brault and Joe Musgrove were among representatives of the
Pirates at the fantasy camp.“Mike and I have been good friends for years,” said Jack Cohen, Butler County Tourism Bureau president. “I've been asking him for a few years now when we were going to put together an All-Star Game like this.“This league ... This is what community does. This is a celebration of community. Special needs kids grow up to be adults like everyone else. They are special people. They deserve this.”Every player at the fantasy camp received a baseball bat, Pirate uniform and a bag filled with gifts from Butler County businesses.“Without the Tourism Bureau and the Cranberry Parks and Recreation, this day doesn't happen,” Sherry said.Former Pirates catcher Michael McKenry, now a member of the Pirates' TV broadcast team, spent the entire day at the Miracle League field.He also took part in Miracle League festivities at the field a few years ago when he was a Pirate player.“I remember that was a warm day and we had a game that night,” McKenry said. “I was soaked in sweat out here and didn't even feel it, didn't even care.“These kids are so excited to be here. You see the smiles, how much they cherish being able to play baseball. We can learn so much more from them than they'll ever learn from us.“Clint Hurdle said the name on the front of your jersey represents the organization you play for. The name on the back represents who you are, your family and community. I've never forgotten that,” McKendry added.
Brian Delaney, son of Miracle League vice president Kevin Delaney, has been a “buddy” to players in the league since its inception.A buddy is assigned to each player for assistance through the course of the game.“I like baseball and this is a way to give back,” Delaney said. “I like how the players get to know each other and make friends.“I've been a buddy to a lot of different players here. The one who stands out for me is Katie Conway. She plays with such feeling and intensity — and has a great time.”Bailyn Bench, a 2015 Seneca Valley graduate, has been attending Penn State for three years. From age 12 through her senior year in high school, she was the buddy of player Syler Corona.The two remain best of friends today.“It's been a very cool experience,” Bench said. “I began with Syler when she was 5 and now she's 16. I've been able to watch her grow up.“She's made so many friends here. She's gotten to know everybody. This league took her out of her comfort zone and expanded her life. It's been good for her networking skills.”For Bench, it's been good to find a friend.“We'll stay friends forever,” she said.Sherry said numerous “buddies” have developed strong friendships with a particular player over time.“We've had a number of cases where a buddy started up with a player in our first year and they're still going,” he said. “That's on and off the field. Some of them get together all year round.”The Miracle League All-Star Game culminated a one-day celebration.The league itself continues to grow.“We play games six or seven days a week now,” Sherry said. “We have the league for kids 5-18, an adult league and a competitive league. We could still add another 30 to 60 players.“We're working on night games now. That's the next step. This thing goes far beyond baseball.”
