Home runs for all: Miracle League levels the playing field
THE NATIONAL ANTHEM. High fives in the dugout. The hitter calling his shot. The crack of the bat. The roar of the crowd. The ball rolling to the outfield as the runners are waved in. The celebration as they reach home.
It’s a scene that plays out on baseball diamonds across America.
But at Bakersfield Park in Flower Mound, it’s a bit more special. Children of all abilities and talents gather to play a game where everyone bats, everyone scores and everyone wins.
This is the aptly named Miracle League North Texas.
“It’s a huge blessing to all the families with kids with special needs. It’s such a great thing to bring community in,” said Brian Holmus, as he watched his daughter Ellie Holmus play for the Marauders. “She loves it. She doesn’t ever want to miss. In the offseason, she’s always wondering when does baseball start.”
Executive Director Jeff Fisher was at his son’s select baseball game in Arlington years ago when he saw his first Miracle League game on a nearby field. He was so inspired by the opportunity it gave children with special needs that he and his son’s team started volunteering as buddies, who shadow the players in the game.
The Flower Mound resident realized some players and families were traveling long distances to Arlington. That’s when he decided to start a new Miracle League in Flower Mound.
The league started out playing on a softball field in 2021 and by the next year, they had a turf field that could accommodate children of all abilities, including those in wheelchairs and walkers.
Now, the league has 150 athletes and a second location in Denton.
This year, the CoServ Charitable Foundation (CCF) presented Miracle League North Texas with a $6,000 grant that will help pay for uniforms, gloves and other equipment. The grant was funded by CoServ Members and Customers who participate in Operation Roundup® where their bill is rounded up to the nearest dollar. The grant will help make the game accessible to all, Jeff said.
“Miracle League North Texas is a first-time grant recipient and it’s truly inspiring to witness the grant in action on the fields in Flower Mound and Denton,” said Jennifer Ebert, the CCF Coordinator. “Everyone who contributes to Operation Roundup plays a vital role in helping these athletes live their dream of being part of a team and playing baseball.”
Miracle League has a way of drawing people in like a magnet – even those who don’t have children in the league. Ted Wisdom played baseball at Sanger High School and in college and currently coaches both select and high school teams. Like Jeff, the baseball lifer decided to volunteer as a buddy one day and fell in love.
Ted just finished his fifth season coaching the Marauders and he’s had 10 players who have been with him since he started coaching.
“It’s so much fun to be in the position I’m in,” Ted said. “I’m passing on the love and knowledge of [baseball] to those who love it as well. It’s great for everyone involved.”
