Opening day is baseball and a lot of fun

It was a perfectly warm but slightly overcast day with trees and grass for miles stretching a deep emerald across Pleasant Valley Road in New Philadelphia.

There were more than 100 cars in the parking lot at Faith Christian Church, and double that number of people huddled at the side of just-completed Logan McCauley Field, named for a young man who was present with his father at the creation of the Tuscarawas County Challenger Baseball League 10 years ago.

It was opening day on Saturday, June 8. Everyone was ready to play ball, and they were prepared to overcome any kind of difficulty to do so.

Tuscarawas County Challenger Little League began when a father wanted his son, who had outgrown basic Little League competition, to continue to play in spite of physical challenges. That boy was Logan McCauley, for whom the field is now named.

The league brings together players who just want to get out there and play a little baseball. With challenges visible and unseen, in wheelchairs or with canes, they’re in there hitting and running the bases. McCauley was on hand to sing the national anthem and throw out the first pitch.

Out on the mound, league President Jennifer Flaherty, wearing a shirt with “Team Mom” on the back, began by thanking those who’d helped to make the day possible: Tuscarawas County Rainbow Connection and the day’s host, Faith Christian Church, whose pastor, Brian Flood, offered the opening prayer.

Robert Glasgow, announcer for the day, introduced the teams with the song, “Put Me In Coach,” for background over the sound system. Today there are six teams and 55 players from 5 years old to 62. They’ve taken familiar team names like the Astros, Indians, Reds and Cardinals.

“Ten years ago we had just nine players,” Glasgow said. “Today we have six full teams, and that’s pretty remarkable.”

“Some of the kids have an IEP at school,” Flaherty said, “and some are in wheelchairs. We take them all.”

The rules for the day are somewhat relaxed. “Typically everybody bats; everybody fields. We don’t keep any scores. We work on independence. We work on a lot of socialization, teamwork and playing together. We work on skills, but we also play ball and have fun,” Flaherty said.

Flood said the church was pleased to offer the field for the day’s play. As it turned out, the Challenger Baseball League played the inaugural game for the brand-new diamond. “We just finished it this week,” he said. “We always said we wanted to use this ground to give to the community.”

Flood also is a longtime board member of Rainbow Connection, and that organization was looking for a place to get a field together for the Challenger League.

“We went and talked to Mayor Joel Day, who suggested we should be talking to Faith Christian. So I took it to our leadership, and they were enthusiastic about the idea,” Flood said.

Flaherty said the league will play through the end of June. “Every year we have a grand finale with music and food and a big get-together,” she said.

But Flaherty is already looking toward late summer when her league will host the statewide tournaments, which will be held at Dover City Park fields July 27-28. As many as 2,000 people are expected to arrive in town that weekend.

“We need to make that as free for participants as possible with lunch and an evening at NewPointe Church with a dance,” Flaherty said.

Flaherty said the hosting Tuscarawas County Challenger League has raised all but a few remaining dollars of the $50,000 needed in just six months. “And we haven’t had our biggest fundraiser yet. This community has been very supportive, and we’re very grateful,” she said.

She also gives full credit to Dover Parks director Scott Jerles, who has been a supporter of the league.

This opening day, all that happens behind the scenes, with so many volunteers, is focused on the field. A young player, perhaps 7 years old, swings repeatedly at a baseball pitched from a few feet away. The pitcher keeps at it until the bat connects, bringing a wide smile to the batter and a field erupting in cheers.

“It’s all about the players getting to play a little baseball and have fun,” Flaherty said.