Everybody scores at Monroe’s Miracle League field

Published 12:52 pm Monday, September 13, 2010

MONROE — Kayla Wheeler’s tenacity comes through when you watch her play baseball.

During the opening game at the Monroe Rotary Field at the Skykomish River Park on Saturday afternoon, Kayla, 13, of Lynnwood, gave it her best shot, as she always does.

Kayla plays in the Miracle League, a local baseball league for kids with developmental and physical disabilities. Players, their families and local leaders on Saturday celebrated the opening of the new all-weather ball field.

The Monroe Rotary Club led the effort to build the $1.2 million field. The wheels started turning more than five years ago. The city donated the land; the Rotary Club raised money and other sponsors from the community chipped in.

“We’ve been working for a long time to get here,” said Joyce Wheeler, Kayla’s mom. “It’s a great thing to the whole community.”

The Miracle League used to play at Lake Tye Park, she said. Kayla and other players would come off the field covered in dirt.

Every athlete won on Saturday. The crowd cheered as players high-fived their parents and volunteers helping them on the field. Kayla left the field in her powered wheelchair and chatted with her friends. Her service dog, a Labrador-poodle cross named Cadet, lay in the shade nearby.

Kayla said she loved baseball ever since she tried it. The Miracle League allows Kayla to play the sport by the modified rules that work for her. She spent the past six years playing, making friends and building confidence.

The girl also swims with the U.S. Paralympic Team, said her mom. Playing sports inspires people with disabilities to believe they can achieve their goals, she said.

Kayla wants to be an elementary school teacher when she grows up. Wheeler just wants to see her daughter succeed, whatever she ends up doing with her life.

“There is no doubt she’s going to do something that will change people’s minds about people with disabilities,” Wheeler said.

People from the community came to watch the kids play. Standing by the fence, Oddvar Aurdal recounted his family’s journey with his son Ole, 17, who has autism. Aurdal, of Monroe, exercises at the senior center in the park. He watched for years as workers slowly built the field piece by piece.

“It’s good to see it get done,” he said. “Any time people with disabilities get recognition, that’s great.”

An avid baseball fan, Aurdal plans to bring his son by to see a game sometime. Ole didn’t come to the opening ceremony because he doesn’t like crowds.

Austin Mitchell stopped by with his wife and their four children to see how the field turned out. The Monroe family knew the field was bound to open soon.

“It’s a wonderful field,” Mitchell said.

Britt Hiatt, also of Monroe, works for the firm that helped engineer the field. On Saturday, the concept engineers drew on paper came to life.

“It’s really neat to see how it all comes together,” Hiatt said.

Katya Yefimova: 425-339-3452, kyefimova@heraldnet.com.