by Chuck Seaver, South Lake Tablet
The Miracle League of Lake County kicked off its annual fall baseball season on Saturday, September 20th, at Lake Idamere Park in Tavares with a near record number of participants and families attending.
The league, which depends heavily on volunteers both on and off the field, coordinates two seasons a year, spring and fall. The purpose of the league is to provide a baseball-playing experience for children and young adults with physical and mental disabilities. Without the league, many of the participants might not otherwise have an opportunity to live out their dream of playing baseball. The season also provides an opportunity for the athletes and their families to enjoy an exciting game in which every player gets to take a turn at batting, at least once. Every player also gets the chance to play a field position, if they desire.
Two local civic organizations that support the Miracle League of Lake County, Chicago Fire Brewery of Leesburg, and the Kiwanis Club of Clermont had the privilege of pitching the “opening pitch” for the season opener.
Program Director Tony Ferris, who has served the league since its inception in 2006, states that “it’s a fun way for kids with some disabilities to get out, have some fun and feel like they are the stars of the day.” Tony further explains how the Miracle League of Lake County came to exist. Before 2006, special needs families had to go to the Orlando area to play baseball. A group of parents and volunteers wanted to change that need, so a league was formed in South Lake County. Before the league played on nearly every field and complex in the Clermont area, the league’s roots began at the South Lake High School baseball field in Groveland.
In 2014, Mike Stone, a special needs advocate, contacted Tony to share his dream and vision of a ballfield in Lake County specifically designed for children and young adults of the Miracle League. Tony admits that he realized it was a tall order and was not going to be easy to achieve, but he was willing to give the effort a hard try. “Mike Stone had a way of lobbying people to get things done that he wanted to get done, and the Miracle League Baseball Field was one of those things,” says Tony.
With a lot of assistance from local donors and grants from the State of Florida and Lake County, Lake Idamere Park became more than a dream. The 45-acre park, complete with natural surroundings and an abundance of disability parking and accessibility, was opened in 2016 for its inaugural ball season.
The baseball field is equipped with a hard rubber-style base that makes access and mobility on the field easy for those confined to wheelchairs or other mobility assistance devices. Plentiful bleacher sections are erected near the oversized player dugout areas. Lake Idamere Park, owned and maintained by Lake County, is considered one of the premier parks in the county by many of the visitors who enjoy the adjoining dog park, playgrounds, and beautiful nature trails within the park.
“The park is truly a dream come true. We serve, on average, 40-60 families each season, and that number is growing,” says Tony.
The season has just begun, and game registrations are still open.
Visit the Miracle League of Lake County (Florida) Facebook page for additional details.
