Mason Challenger League wins $25K grant to put toward new baseball fields

MASON, Ohio — The Mason Challenger League, which will allow physically and developmentally disabled kids to enjoy all the comprehensive positive aspects of Very little League perform, acquired a $25,000 grant to establish a new park.

League officers stated they can make that money go a extended way. For the athletes and mothers and fathers, it’ll go a prolonged way to viewing more smiles.

“She sees us get out the jersey,” mum or dad Sarah Fister-Brewer claimed. “She will get so psyched to be listed here and see pals.”

The league offers the Small League working experience to a lot more than 100 children.

“It’s their time to shine,” Mason Challenger League co-president Susan Murdock claimed. “Their time to be element of the team. Their time to have their mom and dad cheering for them.”

She reported the fields the children engage in on ended up by no means designed for what the league is using them for.

“Right now, we participate in on usual fields,” Murdock stated. “We participate in in Deerfield Township and the town of Mason. We make do with them.”

In September, the league utilized for a grant from Condition Farm. Out of 2,000 organizations nationwide, the Mason Challenger League was one particular of the leading 40 to obtain a grant.

“COVID slowed us down with our challenge to commence increasing money for the new fields,” Murdock mentioned. “Now, this is just a kickstart. It gets us heading. Provides back the electricity for us to go out there and come across additional income to get the fields likely.”

The league’s plan is to establish a $1.5 million facility at Mason’s Makino Park with 3 baseball fields – two of them turf – to allow the youngsters to have a secure area to perform on.

“It’ll get us started off,” Murdock said. “Probably accomplishing drawings with an engineer.”

It will also assistance the dreams of so several go a long way.

“It’s important. You want them to have every little thing,” Murdock explained. “There’s so many items that are harder for them than their regular friends. For them to have a put to belong, a place for on their own, and a position to go out and engage in. It is a amazing point to look at.”