University of Richmond Athletics
Spider Baseball A Hit At The Miracle League
06/19/2008 | Baseball
June 19, 2008
RICHMOND - Student-athletes from the University of Richmond baseball team recently spent time at The Miracle League, teaching the game to special needs children. The Miracle League aims to provide special needs children with a chance to play baseball and promotes the construction of new facilities that meet the needs of these children so they can participate in team sports and enjoy our national pastime - baseball.
Spider baseball players Cameron Brown, Ryan Grant, Brian Farrell, Jay Joines and Mike Mergenthaler were on hand along with head coach Mark McQueen. The team offered instruction on the basic fundamentals of the game, exchanged autographed baseball, and took in a few of the Miracle League games.
"This was a great experience for our guys," McQueen. "We enjoyed the time getting to know the children and I hope they got as big a thrill from us as we did from them."
The idea for the team to visit and participate in The Miracle League actually came from Coach McQueen's wife Michelle, as their son Travis and daughter Tara volunteer on a regular basis as "buddies" at the League.
The mission of the Miracle League is to offer accessible recreational opportunities for children with special needs so that they can participate in a team sport as a member of an organized baseball league. The organization strives to reach this goal by providing opportunities for children with disabilities to play Miracle League baseball, regardless of their abilities; promoting community support and sponsorship of Miracle Leagues; and promoting the construction of special facilities, which meet the unique needs of Miracle League players and their families.
