MONROE — It was home runs galore as the MLB opened its season Saturday in Monroe.
In this case, MLB stands for Miracle League Baseball, a program run by the Monroe/Sky Valley YMCA where kids and adults of diverse abilities can get out on the field and take part in America’s pastime.
The games aren’t meant to be competitive. Every player gets to hit and nobody strikes out. The game adapts to the needs of its players so anyone can be involved.
Like so many activities hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic, this will be the first full season in years.
Summer Potter’s son, Harper, has been playing there since he was 5. But taking a few years off was detrimental, the mother said.
Harper, now 9, is partially paralyzed from the waist down. At birth, a doctor said he’d never play football. He now plays baseball and flag football.
Webbly greets people in the stands during a game of YMCA’s Miracle League Baseball at Monroe Rotary Field in Monroe, Washington on Saturday, April 22, 2023. The program is designed to allow people with diverse abilities to play baseball. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
On Saturday, he hit a home run. Other kids did Jackie Robinson impressions as they stole home.
“It’s always a miracle seeing him do what he does,” Summer Potter said.
This year, Miracle League comes back with a $10,000 donation from BASE by Pros, a batting cage company co-owned by Steven Souza Jr. and based in Lynnwood. Souza, a Cascade High School grad, went on to a career in the big leagues after graduating from Cascade High School in Everett. His eight-season career ended last year with a short stint on the Seattle Mariners.
The donation means all the athletes can play for free.
In a statement, Souza said he got involved with Miracle League while playing for the Tampa Bay Rays. He immediately fell in love with it and volunteered as much as he could.
Ananya Raghavan, 10, gives a high-five during a game of YMCA’s Miracle League Baseball at Monroe Rotary Field in Monroe, Washington on Saturday, April 22, 2023. The program is designed to allow people with diverse abilities to play baseball. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
“At Base by Pros, we train baseball and softball players of all skill levels and abilities,” Souza said in the statement. “Getting involved with Miracle League is a natural extension of what we do. Using the game of baseball is the perfect avenue to give back to the community and give these incredible athletes an opportunity to have fun and find success on the field.”
The season, with games played at Rotary Field in Skykomish River Park, will last through June 17. The weekly tripleheaders will be on Saturdays. The first game is for 6- to 11-year-olds. The second is for kids 12 to 17. And the last game is for those over 18. The only weekend off will be Memorial Day.
The first Miracle League opened in Georgia in 2000. The Monroe version, the first of its kind in Washington, began over 20 years ago. Across the country, it’s since grown to over 350 Miracle Leagues.
Leo Baca-Cortez, 5, left, and Brooke Boswell, right, walk together during a game of YMCA’s Miracle League Baseball at Monroe Rotary Field in Monroe, Washington on Saturday, April 22, 2023. The program is designed to allow people with diverse abilities to play baseball. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Hailey Petty has been hanging around and volunteering since she was 2. Her dad entered a radio contest for $10,000 to be donated to an organization of his choice. He chose Miracle League.
Petty, now 20, loves that it “gives players a chance to be players and parents to be parents” when they have so much else to worry about.
Don Purvis has been pitching since 2010, the year after he stopped coaching softball for his daughter. After the first game on the turf field, he shook out his shoe.
“I’ve been waiting to get field rubber for three years,” Purvis said.
On Saturday, each player had a buddy from the Monroe High School softball team to help them bat, run the bases and play in the field.
Max runs the bases during a game of YMCA’s Miracle League Baseball at Monroe Rotary Field in Monroe, Washington on Saturday, April 22, 2023. The program is designed to allow people with diverse abilities to play baseball. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
“It’s great for the high school kids to learn our kids are the same as them,” Purvis said, noting the league always needs more volunteers.
Parents cheered and took videos as their kids rounded the bases.
In the next couple weeks, the players might get their own walk-up songs. Summer Potter figured Harper would choose AC/DC.
Jake Goldstein-Street: 425-339-3439; jake.goldstein-street@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @GoldsteinStreet.
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