By Stephan Pippen, Alameda Little League Umpire In Chief
Challenger Jamboree, aptly named for youngsters who face special life hurdles , brought kids to a special field of dreams on April 23, at Heather Farms in Walnut Creek.
Alameda Little League, along with other Bay Area Little League programs and local partners, participated as part Little League District 4’s volunteer-hosted event that provides Little League Challenger Division players the experience of a baseball tournament.
On top of that, the outing gave an opportunity for Little League families to come together and have fun.
Alameda’s Challenger team was joined on the field with one of Oakland’s Challenger teams, and by a third team that had its own special note : a three-person umpire crew from across District 4 who participated in Jamboree due to the recruitment efforts of Don Waddell, umpire-in chief for District 4.
In this case, Waddell faced a challenge of his own: to round up enough umpires, especially amateurs and first timers, who had the chance to do more than just make the calls from the stands or on the couch, and to assist in the event.
In this case, all folks had to do was “ show up in your umpire uniform, go on the field, and be an active participant, “ according to Don Waddell umpire-in chief in a post to Little League supporters.
Waddell sought to minimize the personal challenge to prospective volunteers, saying, “The key to Challenger Baseball is to HAVE FUN and that is what you will have. No one will be questioning your calls and you will enjoy the day. A typical Challenger game lasts only a few innings,”
Umpires have been a fixture at Jamboree for years. “An umpire’s participation on the field in these fun and emotional games is a big addition to the event, and one the players will recognize and support,” said Waddell.
Little League Challenger Division was founded in 1989, and is Little League’s adaptive baseball program for individuals with physical and intellectual challenges. Any individual with a physical or intellectual challenge may participate. The Little League Challenger Division accommodates players ages 4 to 18; or up to age 22 if still enrolled in school.
In the end, the final score didn’t matter as players, parents and caregivers, coaches and umpires alike, had fun participating in the game. Afterwards, teams from Lafayette, Walnut Creek, East County, Clayton Valley, Albany, as well as teams from Nevada, joined Oakland and Alameda’s Challenger teams for some food, fun and games.
“I was blown away with the number of Jamboree players and volunteers,” said Alameda Challenger player parent Tony Batalla, adding to this special local community rendition of “Take Me Out To The Ball Game.”