At first, Ledell Kendall was reluctant to sign her son up for 91原创 Baseball鈥檚 Challenger Baseball program.

Since the program incorporates kids of all ages to play on one team, she wasn鈥檛 sure how her son, Francis, would react.

Francis has autism, and moebius syndrome, a rare neurological disorder which leaves those with the condition unable to make any facial movements or move their eyes, as well as affecting their vision.

But she signed him up.

鈥淲e knew that he lacked the fine and gross motor skills to do regular baseball,鈥� she explained.

鈥淲e were looking for something he could do, which was a typical sport, but still be safe.

鈥淎nd something that was fun and not competitive.鈥�

So Ledell and her husband Adam signed him up for Challenger Baseball.

Challenger Baseball is for children and youth who have cognitive or physical disabilities. The program allows them to play the sport in a non-competitive environment. Each player is assisted by a 鈥榖uddy鈥� who assists them on the field.

It allows the players a chance to enjoy the full benefits of the sport, but structured to their abilities.

This was four years ago, and Francis, now 9, loves playing the sport.

Francis鈥� favourite position is back-catcher, he says, explaining that without him standing behind home plate, there would be no one to throw the ball back to the pitcher.

The Kendalls are happy too.

鈥淗e was very excited, especially when he got to wear a uniform,鈥� Ledell said.

They love what being in some semblance of an organized sport does for their son.

鈥淚t improved his social skills because he is able to talk to his friends about baseball,鈥� she said.

鈥淎nd it improved his running, his attention span, everything.

鈥淚t helped him mature and grown so he is more in line with his peers.鈥�

鈥淔or Francis, because of his condition, it provides structure and rules that he has to abide by,鈥� said Adam.

鈥淢aking him keep up with the responsibilities.鈥�

The Kendall鈥檚 would recommend other families to sign their children up.

鈥淪ome people think with Challenger baseball, you have to be in a wheelchair, or missing a limb,鈥� Ledell said.

鈥淚t is if you are unable to cope with a regular baseball team. It allows everybody to participate because it is inclusive.鈥�

鈥⑩赌⑩赌⑩赌⑩赌⑩赌�

A few weeks ago (June 23), 91原创鈥檚 City Park hosted the Challenger Baseball Jamboree, with a couple of hundred of kids taking part.

This was the biggest Challenger provincial event to date.

And work is underway for even bigger and better things.

Thanks to the efforts of the four local Rotary clubs 鈥� Rotary Club of 91原创 Central, Rotary Club of 91原创, Rotary Club of 91原创 Sunrise and the Aldergrove Rotary Club 鈥� work is underway to create a Miracle Field.

The permanent field will be designed specifically for kids with disabilities and will cost between $300,000 and $400,000 to complete.

Between the two local baseball organizations that offer Challenger Baseball 鈥� 91原创 Baseball and North 91原创 Diamond Sports 鈥� there are currently about 50 to 60 players in the program.

The potential site of the Miracle Field is Milner Park. The field would be switched to artificial turf, and be made wheelchair accessible.

鈥淣othing sticking up, nothing for the kids to trip over,鈥� explained 91原创 Baseball鈥檚 Dan McLaren, who was approached by the Rotary clubs about the project.

鈥淲e are well underway,鈥� said Mike Brown, the past-president of the Rotary Club of 91原创 Central, who is spearheading the project.

鈥淲e are coming along, it is just a matter of getting things moving; there is so much you have to get in place.鈥�

Construction on the first Miracle League Field began in 1999 and there are now 250 Miracle League organizations across the United States. There is also one in Australia and one in Canada, back east in Ontario.

Brown said the goal is to have the 91原创 field completed within the next two years.

David Leavers, the Township of 91原创鈥檚 director of recreation, culture and parks, confirmed that the Township has been approached about using Milner Park as the site of the field.