Miracle League Program Impacts Players and Their Families

The summer season of the Miracle League is in full swing with just a few more games left but the program’s impact on its participants and their families will hopefully be felt for a lifetime. 

Kelsi, an energetic and enthusiastic 19-year-old young lady with Down Syndrome, loves participating in sports and playing Miracle League baseball. 

“It has been a wonderful experience! Kelsi has always liked baseball,” says Ryan and Ann Da Re, parents of Kelsi, a Miracle league player. “When she was around six or eight-years-old, we started playing catch with her and holding batting practices in our backyard. The Miracle League has given Kelsi the opportunity to play with a wonderful group of athletes, coaches and volunteers. And the families are so supportive of each other.”

The Miracle League program helps promote physical and mental well-being fitness opportunities through the game of baseball for youth and adults with developmental and physical disabilities. The program works to eliminate the main barriers that youth and adults with disabilities face by hosting games on a custom designed, rubberized surface at Dr. Richard Tami Miracle Field at Hellwig Memorial Park.

During each game, every player gets the opportunity to play in the field, bat off a batting tee and circle the bases each inning. In the Miracle League, every hit is a home run and every player scores.  

“Kelsi really looks forward to spending her Saturday mornings on the field. For Ryan and me… there’s so much joy in watching Kelsi and the other athletes improve their skills and smile as they round the bases,” adds Kelsi’s mom, Ann.

As for the impact the program has had on her daughter, Ann says the program allows an outlet for all of Kelsi’s energy, and Kelsi loves socializing with her peers, coaches, and volunteers before, during and after the games. She says it also seems to have increased her daughter’s confidence since joining the league.

In addition to playing Miracle League baseball, Kelsi also stays active by riding her bike, lifting weights, walking in the neighborhood and playing bocce in the backyard. She wants to get a job in the future and is attending a job skills class and Unified Physical Education as a part-time high school super senior.

Ann proudly shares that her daughter was also nominated and won a Mid-Atlantic Recreation and Parks Sports Alliance (MARPSA) Good Sports Award in 2023, which recognizes individuals who demonstrate positive sportsmanship in recreation programs. Kelsi was thrilled to accept the award this past March at a ceremony in Annapolis, Maryland. 

Miracle League player Paul, a good-natured, highly intelligent, jovial and lovable 24-year-old young man with non-verbal autism has been playing Miracle League baseball in Prince William County since fall of 2022.

“It's been very exciting to be able to watch Paul grow as he learns the sport of baseball,” says Paul’s mom, Venesia Edghill. “We’ve also enjoyed meeting other families in the league, and witnessing joy of the players has been very heartwarming.”

Venesia says Paul looks forward to each game and that whenever they mention baseball, his face lights up and he is eager to attend.

“He has become more outgoing and willing to participate during the games,” Venesia adds. “I’m looking forward to the future growth of the program in its many seasons to come, as well as the creation of similar opportunities for Paul and other individuals with disabilities to participate in.”

Three more games are left in the current season, with a special “First Responders” ceremony and game taking place on Saturday, September 14 at 9 a.m. to remember the victims of 9/11 and pay tribute to the first responders on this 23rd anniversary of the tragic day. Games are played Saturdays at 9 a.m. at Dr. Richard Tami Miracle Field at Hellwig Memorial Park. The last game of the season is on September 28.

“At the heart of it, the Miracle League is really about support—being able to support these children and their families, and provide opportunities for them to grow and learn, and really to just have fun—that’s what it’s all about,” said Mac Slover, who coordinates the program for sports services, Prince William County Department of Parks and Recreation. 

If you know of a family member or friend who would like to sign up to play please click here for more information about future seasons.