Moody Miracle League host First Responders game

Published 4:54 pm Wednesday, September 26, 2018

It was definitely an educational morning at the Moody Miracle League this past Saturday as our local First Responders were given a small glimpse of what it’s really like to be a person with special needs.  

“We wanted A Special Needs Awareness Day and the First Responders Game was born”, says Kim Sebastian, Board Member who has a son who plays with Moody Miracle League and is legally blind as well as cerebral palsy. 

Planning went into setting up the First Responder players to put some in wheel chairs, some with no or low vision and other various limitations.  The MML Board of Directors went to our local Police and Fire Departments and shared the challenge this would be and they were honored to participate.  Game Day included games lasting two innings, which was more than enough for some.  “I’ve not had a workout like this in a while”, said a fireman, as he played using a walker and limited leg use.  Another said, “I have a new perspective on this,” as he played with no vision glasses.

A large crowd including people from all over the county as well as the first responders, the Moody Miracle League players and their parents to cheer on each player as they struggled to hit the ball with the bat and walk to bases with their various handicaps.  These games were in no way to make fun of anyone with special needs, but to help others see exactly how a special needs person struggles to do things that others do with ease.  Everyone laughed as well as cheered because it was hilarious to see these first responders attempt to do what our special friends do every week to enjoy the game of baseball. 

The day’s lineup included two First Responder games:  Moody vs. Odenville and Leeds vs. Pell City.  Players included policemen, firemen, city workers and other community people.  Miss Leeds Area, Braidyn Lazenby, and Miss Leeds Area Outstanding Teen, Coco Green, were among the players on the Leeds team.  The UAB Women’s Track, Women’s Basketball, Nursing School and a Cheerleader all showed up as various times to cheer on the teams.  Miss Appalachian Valley, Emma Owen, was also there to spread the cheer and she had an opportunity to speak a moment about her platform, “Siren Snuggies”.  Siren Snuggies are gift bags for First Responders to give to kids in accidents and critical situations so that the kids are more at ease when going through these type of trauma situations.  Different MML players took turns singing the National Anthem before each game. 

The Moody Miracle League players played their games immediately following.  It was an awesome experience and loads of fun to watch these players play with such enthusiasm and happiness in playing the game of baseball.  The excitement continued as many of them made their way around the bases for a grand slam!  There was plenty of sunshine, but some innings were cut a little short because the weather temperature was rising toward 90 degrees as the day progressed so the players did not get overheated. 

“We’ve already been contacted by other cities who heard about this and are wanting to play next year,” says Pat Shipp, also on the Board. “We had a great day with Mayor Joe Lee who spoke, our First Responders and our very own players who played afterwards.”

Jon Walden with Revocation Radio, an alternative rock and hip hop Christian station, was the announcer for the first responders’ event.  A family member of a League player bought all the First Responders Chick-fil-A biscuits to say thanks for supporting the MML.  The concessions, t-shirts and sponsorship opportunities were available all throughout the day as fundraisers and several hundred dollars was donated to the league.  The baseball field surface needs to be replaced which is a very costly endeavor and they are in need of additional donations to reach their goal in order for this to be accomplished.

The games on Saturday were considered exhibition games.  The MML opening day will be this Saturday, Sept. 29 so come out, watch these awesome players play the game of baseball and purchase concessions, etc. to help with raising funds for the new field surface.  If you have a person with special needs in your family regardless of age, the league would love to have him or her join the league and play baseball.  Each player has a buddy volunteer who assists with batting, traveling the bases and any other need that arises while the players are on the field.  Also, the players enjoy outings and trips all during the year in addition to playing the game of baseball.  It is a wonderful association for these players and their families to develop friendships and enjoy these types of recreation.

For more information about Moody Miracle League or to donate to this worthy cause, please visit www.MoodyMiracleLeague.org or call 205-225-9444.