OTTAWA-The second annual Challenger Baseball Jamboree took place over the weekend at Rogers Centre in Toronto following the Blue Jays game and proved to be yet another memorable day with nearly 100 Challenger players participating doubling the turnout from 2013.
Challenger Baseball provides an opportunity for children with cognitive or physical disabilities to enjoy the thrill of playing baseball and the program, adopted by Baseball Canada in 2012, was on full display at Rogers Centre
“The Challenger Baseball Jamboree at Rogers Centre was once again a tremendous event that gave participants an opportunity to play on a big-league field for a day,” said National Challenger Baseball Coordinator Ian McLean. “The jamboree also gave new Challenger Baseball ‘buddies’ a hands-on experience as to what the program is all about as they are an integral piece of the puzzle.”
Challenger Baseball ‘buddies’ provide the most important function for the players: creating a safe environment. They also provide a mentoring role, helping their partners with catching, throwing, batting and getting around the bases.
With the amount of participants in the jamboree increasing in 2014, the number of buddies also needed to rise and that was made possible largely through Jays Care, the charitable foundation of the Toronto Blue Jays, whose ‘Community Crew’ group comprised many of the volunteers.
Once on the field, Challenger players and buddies were split up into eight teams and four games took place simultaneously on the Rogers Centre outfield where bats, balls and gloves were spread around and nothing but laughter and cheering, and pure enjoyment for the game of baseball could be seen and heard from everyone involved.
It didn’t matter who, won, it didn’t matter who had a big hit or made a play in the field, the Challenger Baseball Jamboree exhibited the sport in its purest form and showed that the game can be enjoyed by absolutely anyone.
Making guest appearances were Blue Jays’ players Anthony Gose, Chad Jenkins and Kevin Pillar who each took turns pitching, posing for photos and signing autographs.
The success of the second annual Challenger Baseball Jamboree hindered greatly on the support of the Blue Jays and Jays Care who’ve been tremendous ambassadors of the program since 2012.
“Of course, the Challenger Baseball Jamboree would not have been possible without the continued support of the Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Club and for that Challenger Baseball Canada is truly grateful,” added McLean.
Challenger Baseball Canada would like to thank all of those who made the second annual Challenger Baseball Jamboree a success and we look forward to watching this event grow over the years.
A special thank-you goes out to Regimbal Ltd. Awards & Promotions for providing the medals that each participant received.
Check out photos from the second annual Challenger Baseball Jamboree HERE.
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