CRANBERRY TWP — The Miracle League went dark in 2020.

Saturday at the Pirates Charities Miracle League Field at Graham Park, it shined brighter than ever.

The Miracle League of Southwestern Pa. (MLSWPA) — a charitable organization dedicated to providing children and adults with special needs the opportunity to play baseball — opened its 11th season.

“That was a difficult decision, but the right decision,” MLSWPA board member Ralph Delaney said of shutting down last season in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. “It's a different world for these kids as it is.

“There are certain (threatening health) situations they can't be around.”

The MLSWPA began play in 2009 as the first league of its kind in the region. Now Miracle Leagues are up and running in Indiana, Murrysville, Upper St. Clair, Moon Township and Wheeling, W.Va.

“It all began right here,” MLSWPA director Mike Sherry said. “A little more than a decade ago, none of this existed.

“We've directly or indirectly impacted the lives of thousands of special needs children and adults over the years. That's something we're very proud of.”

But Sherry admitted he was unsure what the league would look like this season after not playing last year.

“Three weeks ago, we weren't even sure if we'd be a go for this season,” he said. “Once it appeared the pandemic was fading, we felt it was safe to come back.

“I know a lot of activities have gone virtual and carried on, but special needs children need the interaction and activity. You can't just put them in front of a laptop. It doesn't work.”

While the league did lose a few players from 2019, it gained a few more. There are 230 special needs children and adults in the league this year, including 102 new players.

The league also has more than 200 volunteers.

“The huge number of new players shows me people want to get back out there, socialize and get back to normal again,” Delaney said. “Twenty-seven percent of the league is new. That's a big number even for a regular year.

“We're all about positive attitudes here. Friendships are formed among the players. Parents here have a lot in common, get together, start talking and support each other.”

Rob Sickelsmith has been a volunteer coach in the MLSWPA since its inception.

“I'm a lifer. I'll be here for life,” he said. “If I could come here every day and coach team after team all day, I would do it.”

The league has three divisions — Miracle Division for children ages 5-18, Adult Division for those over 18 and a Youth Division which allows youths to play using modified baseball rules.

The league runs through the second week of July. It holds a six-week fall league as well.

Children play Saturdays and Sundays. The adults play Monday through Thursday.

“We've got two teams of maybe a dozen adults,” Sherry said. “I know there are more out there. I'd love to get special needs adults in their 20's, 30's, 40's, out here playing baseball.”

Sicklesmith said his wife “found out about the league one day and we thought it'd be great for our son, Jacob.

“There was a need for coaches and managers, so I've been doing that ever since.”

Pirates Charities donated $125,000 to the MLSWPA 12 years ago to help get the all-synthetic field built. That organization continues to contribute to the league.

“If we need some money for something, they're there to help us,” Sherry said of Pirates Charities. “I can't say enough about that organization.

“The Seneca Valley Student Council raises money for us every year and they've contributed $80,000 through the years. We honored them during our opening ceremonies.

“This goes way beyond baseball. This is about community. There's a lot of great people out there. We witness it here every day,” Sherry added.