HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — Do you want to experience pure joy and excitement? Just head down to Brahan Spring Park on Thursday nights this fall season to take in a ball game where the swing of the bat brings smiles and a sense of belonging in The Miracle League of North Alabama.
The program provides children and teenagers ages 5-17, as well as adults who have mental and physical disabilities, the opportunity to play baseball on an adapted field at Johnny Franklin Field.
Dave Shulte and his brother, Doug, run the league that operates as a non-profit and is fully funded by donations and sponsors.
“Everything we do is volunteer,” said Dave.
The Shulte brothers have been involved with the program for many years and are familiar faces to the players and their families.
“It’s just a lot of fun to get them out here and watch them play,” said Dave.
Dave said that roughly 425 players signed up and are participating in the fall season. The league’s mission is to “remove the barriers that keep children and adults with disabilities off the baseball field” and provide the joy of America’s Favorite Pastime.
“You can just see the joy on their faces that they can get out here and play baseball just like anybody else. They absolutely love it,” explains Doug.
The impact the program has on the players and their parents can be life changing. It gives them a sense of belonging and builds their confidence. More so than anything, it’s fun!
Donations and volunteers keep it going. Youth and high school teams from all over North Alabama pitch-in to help during every season. Recently the Athens High School baseball team showed up to show their support for the Emeralds team. Other teams have brought equipment like bats and helmets to donate. Doug says he knows of one player who, instead of asking for gifts for himself, asks for baseball equipment to donate for his birthday every year so that he can give them to the Miracle League players.
Dave and his family dedicate many hours, putting in the grunt work of making sure the fields are ready and the schedules are set. It’s that time and dedication that makes them our Hoover’s Heroes. Dave says it’s the players who are the heroes in his eyes.
“All I want to do is come out here and just announce and let them have fun. I don’t feel like I’m any kind of hero. These kids are the heroes, not me,” said Dave.
The Miracle League Complex is located in Brahan Spring Park. The field is equipped with a special rubber surface that covers the entire field. It provides a level playing surface and a safe environment. Players in wheelchairs or other mobility devices navigate around the entire field safely.
All of the programs are run at no cost to the players. Organizers believe money should never be the reason that someone can’t play baseball. The league provides the equipment to play, and the players provide the smiles and the excitement.
Currently, Dave says the specialized rubber field they play on is in need of some repair. Ultimately, they’d like to install astroturf. Dave says other Miracle League teams in other states have astroturf fields and it would be great if the North Alabama league had the same.
There is also a spring baseball season. Registration opens in January or February. If you’d like to get your child involved or a family member would like to play this fall, even if they haven’t registered, they can still find a spot on a team.
We’re not going to turn anybody away who wants to play,” says Dave.
Dave says donations are always welcome and appreciated no matter how big or small. To make donations to The Miracle League of North Alabama, click here.
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