Champion's ball team

It's summer.  It's Thursday at 6pm.  It's Diamond #4 at  Herrin City Park.  It's where you'll find Steve and Cindy Miller.  And it's where you'll find the Champions ball team. 
    I stopped by Diamond 4 today. I saw a few kids that I know: Stephanie and John, Ali, Kristin and Clay.  There's many new kids,  But the look on their faces is the same. Pure fun. Just fun.
I look in the stands, and recognize the look in the parents' faces - pride, pleasure.
    I can't believe that it's been 6 years since Emily played there. She blossomed there. She was the self proclaimed catcher, encourager, congratulator at homebase. She could slide into home like a pro. Emily was a Champion and Steve was her hero.

     I quote from an article written by Gail Rissi Thomas for the Southern Illinoisan:   The Champions League is for kids with disabilities, and although there are a variety of problems to overcome among the members of the team; everything from hearing problems, down syndrome, autism and being wheelchair bound, it's not their disabilities, but abilities that are in focus for this adventure.
   The Champions will never play a game against an opponent, but each of these kids will have a winning season on a more  personal level.  Most of them have never known the pride of showing up in uniform, the fun of being a part of a team with their friends, or the thrill of running the bases and hearing a crowd cheering them on.
   When the Champions play, it's guaranteed that everyone, kids, parents, grandparents, and friends of Miller, who show up at the field just to help out, will be happy because nobody loses.  Everyone bats, usually at least twice, and everyone runs (or rolls) around the bases.
   Steve Miller has a fearless force behind every idea that he puts into play.  Miller said that the support and participation of his family is an added benefit in his role as a champion for the Champions.  "This has brought our family closer together.  My daughters are both very protective of their dad.  They want to be sure that if I try to do something, that I'm covered and that it works out OK.  Both of my daughters, their husbands, my wife and the  grandkids - we're all out there together when the Champions play.  And on Thursday nights, with all the kids, we're just one huge family."
    The experience has been as rewarding for Cindy as well.  "We are so blessed," she says.  "The Champions are such a big part of our life.  It's not about seeing ourselves as being fortunate, but it puts a new perspective on our eveyday life.  I would never want people to feel sorry for these children.  They're having a great time.  It's not about having struggles, but about overcoming them.  Steve and I have dealt with alot of kids over a lot of years, but I know that this is by far the best thing we've ever done." 

                                    

     Emily and Steve Miller - 2006

Hey batter,batter, Hey batter batter, Hey batter, batter....

SWINNNNNNG

True Grit

Sweet contentment  

"You have to tag the base!"

          

Encouraging Jay

        

          

Sliding into home. Can you see angel wings?

Try standing like this.  Doesn't that feel great?

To Steve, Cindy, and all the family and friends and volunteers who make Thursday evenings such a special time for us, Thank you. 

What a difference you made in our lives!