by Cassandra Curran

The Jason Roberts Challenger League for Special Children offers a structured athletic activity where the participants develop the disciplines of teamwork, citizenship and fair play. This year the League is celebrating its tenth anniversary. The most fundamental goal of the League is to give every child a chance to play, regardless of his or her limitations. Participants learn not only the fundamentals of baseball, but also how it feels to be just like other children: pulling together as a team, being cheered, and earning awards for their achievements.

The Special Rules of the League are: (1) All children age five and up with physical or mental disabilities are encouraged to participate; (2) Teams shall include as many as 15 to 20 players; (3) Players will participate in one of two levels, t-ball or coach-pitch; (4) Each player will be assigned a “buddy” to assist the player in all aspects of the game; (5) Every player on the roster shall be in the batting order and shall play defensively for at least one-half of the game; (6) The side is retired when the offense has batted through the roster; (7) No score will be kept during games; and (8) Shirts, hats and equipment, except for baseball gloves and mitts, are provided as part of the registration fee.

The games are played at the Little League field located at the Ohrenberger School in West Roxbury. As a buddy, you are expected to commit yourself to helping either Mondays and Wednesdays or Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. each week through the end of June.

What do the buddies do? They go to bat; they run the bases; and they encourage their players that they did a great job. In the dugout they keep the roster and help the players to go up to bat in order. In the field they help the players to catch the ball and encourage them to go after balls that have been hit. They also take them out to the batting cages to work on their swings. On crowded days, they play catch in the outfield. Why do the kids volunteer to be buddies? They think that it’s fun. It is a growing experience to work with children who have disabilities. It is also a way to accumulate community service hours and to meet really cool people.

Why do the kids join the League? To have a fun time, to learn the fundamentals of baseball and to meet other kids just like themselves. They love to run the bases, cheer for each other, and sing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” Why do the parents like the League? It gives their children the opportunity to play and to run, and to feel like they are like all other children. It’s a great experience for them and great exercise too!

The Jason Roberts Challenger League is sponsored by Boston Lodge of Elks #10, Boston Parks Dept., The Cooperative Bank, Brian Coyne, Dennis Serra Fund, Deno’s Pizza & Subs, Gallagher Real Estate and Insurance, Hennigan Insurance, Home Depot Inc., Hyde Park Cooperative Bank, Imperial Monogram, Oyster House, Roche Bros. Supermarkets, Stop & Shop Companies, Suffolk County Sheriff Andrea Cabral, SuperFlash T-Shirts,Travel by Judie Leon, VFWPost 2017 Dedham, Verizon, the Coyne Family, the Jerzylo Family, City Councillors Rob Consalvo, Maura Hennigan and John Tobin among others.

The League is dedicated to the memory of Jason Roberts, loving nephew of Bill Hubbard, whose life and promise were ended on June 29, 1996, at the age of twenty-one, by a drunk driver. For more information about joining the League, please contact Bill Hubbard, its director at (617) 364-9249, by fax at (617) 364-5070, by e-mail at www.jrobertscl.com or by mail at 94 Sprague Street, Readville, MA 02136.