Swing batter batter swing. Philadelphia’s diamond dreams baseball league kicked off the season on a field of their own.
Since its start, Philadelphia’s diamond dreams baseball league has provided special needs children with an opportunity to play baseball and softball using the buddy system. For the first time ever, four teams of more than 50 kids played on a field designed just for them.
“We have sponsors for every team and we already have people lined up for feeding them. It was amazing! Did you see the crowd? I just can’t believe it’s actually here,” said league coordinator Michele Maxey.
Maxey said several members of the community stepped up to make the field of dreams a reality, especially Yates Construction. Maxey said the continued support for the league is overwhelming.
“It speaks volumes of our community. I’ll start crying. It’s good stuff. It’s good medicine. They just don’t give donations, they show up. They cheer and they’re here every time. They won’t just be at this game, they’ll be at every one,” said Maxey.
The new field includes a rubberized turf, larger dugouts and more. Maxey, whose own son is player, said the families involved are just as excited about this season as the players are.
“I don’t know if they even realize they have a cool new field, they’re just excited to be back out there. It’s just little things they notice, because they’re the parents, like their kids aren’t having trouble running and it’s just nice and clean,” said Maxey.
Maxey said the first game on the new field made a lasting impact on everyone, including volunteers.
“I just wanted to say it’s such a pleasure to get to be a volunteer with diamond dreams,” said one young volunteer.
Players in the league range from 4 to 17 years old.
