The Batavia Muckdogs teamed up with Challenger Baseball and hosted a game at Dwyer Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Challenger Baseball is a community program sponsored by the YMCA and Arc of Genesee Orleans that provides children with disabilities the opportunity to play organized baseball. This is the 16th year for Challenger Baseball. This is the first year the event was held at Dwyer Stadium.
“Last year there was no Challenger Baseball because of the pandemic,” says Shelley Falitico, Director of Development and Community Relations at the Arc of Genesee Orleans/Volunteer at the YMCA Challenger Sports program.
Due to ever changing guidance for COVID, the group is moving slowly back to normal operations.
“We are starting small because when we first did registration we had to follow all the restrictions, and now its been lifted, so we have 15 participants in two different divisions.”
With the help of volunteers trained in disability awareness and sensitivity, the 15 athletes, who range in age from 5-18, had the opportunity to play baseball with players, coaches and Batavia Muckdog personnel. All 15 participants received a ticket to tonight’s home Muckdog game at Dwyer Stadium where the Muckdogs will take on the Jamestown Tarp Skunks.
Challenger athletes will go out onto the field with Muckdog players before tonight’s game.
“This is the best game of the year, its their World Series today,” says Robbie Nichols, owner of the Batavia Muckdogs.
“We love to have them here, we just want to do as much as we can in the community and give back to the children.”
