‘Dream League’ softball providing an opportunity for special-needs athletes
Asher Smith’s smile lit up the base paths, as he was assisted by volunteer Darren Mathews after getting a hit during a Durango Parks & Recreation Dream League softball game at the Fort Lewis College softball fields Monday.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Elena England, left, and volunteer Danica Dudley showed their best tandem dance moves while standing on first base during the Dream League’s season finale. Music plays during the entire game, bringing plenty of players and fans to their feet.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Reilly Coker kept his eyes on the ball and showed off a powerful swing during the 2015 Dream League season.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Melanie Harshman loaded up and hit a homer during the Dream League season finale Monday at the Fort Lewis College softball fields.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Nicholas Mathews couldn’t wait to comes in for a high five with volunteer Teresa Sheehan during this year’s Dream League season finale.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Volunteer Ethan Holst helped get Bryant Smith lined up in the batter’s box before he took some big swings during this year’s Dream league season.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Misty Mathews was one of many parents and fans who stood up to cheer for Dream League athletes, including her son Nicholas Matthews.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Smiles are what you see durign Dream League games, like the big one Adam Kalk wears when he stands up to bat.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Ryan Zollinger did his best Ty Cobb impression when he gripped the bat and hit the softball during the Dream League season.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Teresa Sheehan got in the mix with her daughter Grace Sheehan, warming up together and playing together during the 2015 Dream League softball season.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Melanie Harshman and every other Dream League player received an end of the season trophy from Chris Clements of Durango Parks & Recreation when the season concluded Monday.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald<br>Reilly Coker salutes the flag as volunteer, Darren Mathews, helps Asher Smith hold the flag during the national anthem before the start of a Durango Parks and Recreation, Dream League, softball game at the Fort Lewis College softball fields on Monday.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald<br>Reilly Coker keeps his eyes on the ball during a Durango Parks and Recreation, Dream League, softball game at the Fort Lewis College softball fields on Tuesday.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald<br>Melanie Harshman gets ready knock the ball out of the park during a Durango Parks and Recreation Dream League, softball game at the Fort Lewis College softball fields on Tuesday.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald<br>Volunteer, Darren Mathews, helps Asher Smith line the ball up during a Durango Parks and Recreation, Dream League, softball game at the Fort Lewis College softball fields on Tuesday.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald<br>Volunteer, Darren Mathews, runs with Asher Smith to first base after Asher gets a hit during a Durango Parks and Recreation, Dream League, softball game at the Fort Lewis College softball fields on Tuesday.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald<br>Durango Parks and Recreation, Dream League, volunteer Eric Walker, funs around during a softball game at the Fort Lewis College softball fields on Tuesday.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald<br>Reilly Coker gives volunteer, Danica Dudley, a behind the back back high-five during a Durango Parks and Recreation, Dream League, softball game at the Fort Lewis College softball fields on Monday.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald<br>Smiles are what you see like the big one that Adam Kalk wears during the Durango Parks and Recreation Dream League at the Fort Lewis College softball fields on Tuesday.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald<br>Misty Mathews stands up and cheers on her son Nicholas Mathews during a Durango Parks and Recreation, Dream League, softball game at the Fort Lewis College softball fields on Tuesday.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald<br>A Volunteer plays catch with Ryan Zollinger before the start of a Durango Parks and Recreation, Dream League, softball game at the Fort Lewis College softball fields on Monday.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald<br>Reilly Coker keeps his eyes on the ball during a Durango Parks and Recreation, Dream League, softball game at the Fort Lewis College softball fields on Tuesday.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald<br>Tiffany Bergman, a volunteer, catches and volunteer, Martin Levings, pitches to Elena England during a Durango Parks and Recreation, Dream League, softball game at the Fort Lewis College softball fields on Tuesday.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald<br>Ryan Zollinger follows the ball as he gets ready to swing during a Durango Parks and Recreation, Dream League, softball game at the Fort Lewis College softball fields on Tuesday.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald<br>Volunteer, Teresa Sheehan, and mother to Grace Sheehan, tosses her the ball before the start of a Durango Parks and Recreation, Dream League, softball game at the Fort Lewis College softball fields on Monday.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald<br>The Durango Parks and Recreation, Dream League, softball games are a great way to give the participants a chance to play sports.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald<br>Nicholas Mathews, comes in fro a high five with volunteer, Teresa Sheehan, during a Durango Parks and Recreation, Dream League, softball game at the Fort Lewis College softball fields on Tuesday.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald<br>Volunteer, Tamara Sandroal, cheers on Asher Smith as volunteer, Darren Mathews, pushes him around the bases during a Durango Parks and Recreation, Dream League, softball game at the Fort Lewis College softball fields on Tuesday.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald<br>Volunteer Ethan Holst, helps Bryant Smith line up for a pitch during a Durango Parks and Recreation, Dream League, softball game at the Fort Lewis College softball fields on Tuesday.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald<br>Team scores are kept during the Durango Parks and Recreation, Dream League, softball game at the Fort Lewis College softball fields on Monday.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald<br>Nicholas Mathews connects with a pitch during a Durango Parks and Recreation, Dream League, softball game at the Fort Lewis College softball fields on Tuesday.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald<br>Elena England, left, dances and haves fun with volunteer, Danica Dudley, during a Durango Parks and Recreation Dream League, softball game at the Fort Lewis College softball fields on Tuesday.
Jerry McBride/Durango Herald<br>Melanie Harshman gets recieves a end of season trophy from Chris Clements, with Durango Parks and Recreation, after a Dream League, softball game at the Fort Lewis College softball fields on Tuesday.
Music blared from the speakers, infield dirt dusted up with dance moves and laughter lit up the diamond every Monday the last eight weeks.
The scene was the Fort Lewis College softball fields, where 14 players embarked on the second season of the Durango Parks & Recreation “Dream League” adaptive softball program for players with disabilities.
After successfully launching the program in 2014, Durango Parks & Recreation saw its efforts pay off two-fold this season with an increase in player and volunteer participation as well as a longer season with an additional three weeks of games.
“It’s gotten bigger, and it’s gotten better because we had returning volunteers and players come back from last year, and we’ve added a few more,” said Mary Krause of Durango, who helped create the program in 2014. “It’s rocking.”
Krause’s son Erich has down syndrome, and she was looking for any way to get him involved in an outdoor activity and away from television and video games.
“Erich is really jazzed about playing. He gets confused on the midweek days, and he starts asking, ‘Is it baseball night?’ All the kids, they wait for Mondays and get so excited to play,” Mary Krause said.
Erich and the rest of the returning players made big strides in their play throughout the season. Many players advanced from hitting off a tee to being able to take swings at live pitches from the volunteers.
“We had a first-year participant who uses a wheel chair, and his parents both said they didn’t know if their kid could even do this, but they wanted to try,” said Chris Clements, recreation supervisor for adults and teens with Durango Parks & Recreation. “We said, ‘Bring him, we’d love to have him here.’ Since then, their son played every week.”
Clements said another first-year player, Elena England, had difficulty her first week being in the mix of activity with everything going on. But, with the help of volunteer Danica Dudley of Durango High School, she was in the full swing of things by the end of the season.
“By the end she was running up to the batter’s box, hugging everyone and participating like any other sports nut would,” Clements said.
Each player was matched with at least one volunteer who helped the athletes bat, field and throw. Relationships are built, and every player makes at least one new friend.
The league grew from 12 to 14 players the last year, and the volunteer numbers went from 15 to 25, helping make this season bigger and better.
High-fives were widely distributed, and so were the dance moves, as a mix of music blasted over the speakers to add even more life to an already exciting event.
“It’s the music that makes the baseball game. Everybody is up here at the complex with ladies softball and adult kickball going on at the other two fields, and everyone is jamming to the music, not just our dream leaguers,” Mary Krause said. “The kids are dancing on the field to Michael Jackson, and the parents even get into it in the stands. The camaraderie between everyone up there is special.”
But, according to Mary Krause, there aren’t enough opportunities for the special-needs community in Durango to have more such moments.
“We need more programs for kids and adults with special needs so they don’t sit home 24 hours a day playing video games. Everyone else in Durango is out enjoying the outdoors, but these kids don’t have all of those opportunities,” Mary Krause said. “There is a dysfunctional special-needs community in Durango. My son and I are moving to Scottsdale, Arizona, because there aren’t enough services for my son to have a lifestyle in this town.
“We lived in Durango for four years and are exiting stage left for a town where my son will have baseball three times a week, bowling and after-school programs. I know it can happen in Durango, but it takes a village to make this a success.”
Krause gave kudos to Clements and Durango Parks & Recreation for getting the ball rolling. She also credited sponsors of the Dream League who stepped up this year to get each player a hat and shirt while helping make the league possible.
The next step for Clements is getting a floor hockey league up and running for special-needs athletes this fall. He said his goal is to continue to provide as many opportunities as possible for every member of the Durango community to get outside and recreate.
“Our motto is to enrich your life. That’s what we’re doing, enriching lives in the community,” he said. “This Dream League is doing it in a different way for a population that may be under served, so if we can provide them with activities, well then, that’s great.”
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