Baseball for everyone

Joshua Potter’s name was announced over the stadium’s speaker system as he moved into the batter’s box at Frontier Field. With the help of his buddy, Courtney Case, Joshua hit a ground ball and rolled his wheelchair to first base for a single.

Joshua, 7, of Pittsford, was one of more than 260 players from Monroe and Ontario counties who received the opportunity to play at a AAA ballpark Saturday, June 19 at the 18th annual Challenger Baseball World Series.

Challenger Baseball is for boys and girls ages 6 to 18 who are mentally or physically challenged. Players can’t make an out, everyone gets a chance to hit during each inning, and every game ends in a tie. Each player has a buddy on the field to assist with hitting, running and fielding.

Challenger allows children like Joshua, who has cerebral palsy, to take part in America’s pastime.

“He really seems to enjoy it,” Joshua’s father Ted said. “It’s something that’s similar to what he’s used to seeing other kids participate in, and that’s a great joy.”

While some area leagues have been around for 20 years, the Pittsford challenger league is in its first year. The league is a family affair for the Breitenbach family: Judy Breitenbach is the league’s general manager; her son Mitchell, 13, is a buddy; and son Sam, 8, who has autism, is a player.

The first year has been successful, as the league has 33 players divided between two teams.

“I have high hopes for the league,” Judy Breitenbach said. “It started out with 12; it’s already up to 33 and I just hope it continues to grow.”

Michelle Kinney previously tried soccer for her son Joshua, who has autism, and opted to give baseball a shot this year. She said it’s a good fit.

“All of the children have special needs, not just one, on the team and that’s the key,” she said.

What makes the league work are its “buddies,” many of whom are volunteers from the Pittsford high schools and middle schools. Courtney Case, who will be a sophomore at Pittsford Mendon High School, got involved after hearing about it at school.

“I played baseball and softball with Little League since I was like five,” said Case, a shortstop for the Mendon varsity softball team. “I wanted to get involved and help other people play, because I want them to enjoy the game like I do.”

The Red Wings have hosted the game since 1993. Manager Tom Nieto and pitcher Kyle Waldrop talked to kids and signed autographs during the event, and a picnic was available for players, parents, buddies and spectators.

“It’s nice when people step up and help out,” Ted Potter said. “It’s a little bit of a rough road to have a disability in the family, so it’s nice to have the community come together.”

The players were excited about the chance to play a game at Frontier Field. Before the game, Sam Breitenbach told his mother, “This time the Red Wings are going to be watching us instead of us watching the Red Wings.”

Kinney proudly cheered for her son from a seat along the first-base line.

“I’m ready to cry,” she said. “I’m smiling from ear-to-ear; it’s great.”