"Challenger Baseball begins 17th annual season Saturday" by: Rebecca Horton

   With a cake auction, smiling faces, and excitement in the air, the Bay City Challenger
Baseball League kicked off their 17th annual season this past Saturday. 
  Teams, buddies, families and community members gathered at the Little League Baseball field in Bay City. 
  Challenger Baseball is a league that provides a place for players ages 5-18 to enjoy the full benefits of Little League baseball at a level structured for their abilities. 
  Under the leadership of Jordan Piwonka, Bay City Challenger has grown each year from the 13 players and two teams at its inception in 2006, to this season’s 72 players split among six teams. 
  “Two of my friends from school came to watch me!” said Van Vleck Elementary School second grader Stuart Deshotels as he talked excitedly after his first game Saturday morning. 
  “Batting is my favorite and catching is the hardest, but winning is the best!” 
  According to his mom, Lindsay Deshotels, this is Stuart’s third season in Challenger and
it is the only sport he has ever played. 
  “Challenger gives Stuart something to look forward to. He is very good with dates and has been counting down to this year’s season.” 
     Stuart has spinal muscular atrophy, which affects his ability to walk.  
  He is wheelchair bound, a fact that is a barrier to regular team sports, but is not an obstacle in the Challenger league. 
  “There is a difference between accessibility and inclusion; and inclusion is a beautiful thing. This is exactly what Challenger provides,” Deshotels said when discussing the opportunities Stuart has to participate in activities with his peers.  
  “Unfortunately there are limits to what and how our kids can play with their peers, and this (league) fills a major gap in their lives.” 
  Chargers Coach and parent, Marty Miller, said that this is her daughter, Bay City Junior High seventh grader Zyrah Brewer’s fourth year participating. 
  “Other leagues wouldn’t be ideal for us. The games can be too long, practices are too long, and it’s too hot. This is perfect. We are able to make adaptations wherever needed to make sure every player has the chance to get the full experience.” 
  Challenger games last one hour instead of the typical six innings in Little League. 
  In addition to being accessible to all, Challenger is unique in other ways.  
  Buddies, in Challenger, are volunteers who are matched with players and assist as needed throughout the game. 
  They may help push a wheelchair, provide an arm as a guide, or just run alongside a player and cheer.  
  Having buddies allows the parents to sit in the stands and watch the game and cheer the players as they would at any little league game.  
  The buddy program provides a valuable experience for the buddies as well.  
  Van Vleck Senior Gaven Ros, who has been a buddy for three years said, “I wish every place had this. It’s a good thing to bring everyone together and it’s a humbling reminder of the things we may take for granted on a daily basis.” 
  Challenger could not operate without its volunteers and donations.  
  The cake auction at the opening ceremony each year provides much needed financial support to the league. 
  “We provide everything for our players,” said Piwonka.  
  “We need new gloves and adapted equipment this year and the money raised this morning will provide exactly what our student athletes need to be successful.” 
  Another volunteer is Chris Boudreaux who photographs the players. 
  “He captures joy!” Deshotels said. 
  “I am grateful that our kids can have fun but also that those special memories are captured for us.” 
  “Last year, a new Challenger mom cried in the stands because it was her first time to ever hear someone cheer for her child,” said Piwonka. 
  “Every kid deserves the chance to be cheered, to stand with pride and a smile, and to know that they are important in our community and more importantly the world.” 
  The Challenger season games will be April 27, May 4, and May 11 at 9, 10, and 11 a.m. 
  Join them in the stands at 2308 Carey Smith Blvd in Bay City and cheer for these incredible Challenger athletes who are overcoming challenges every day.