Pure joy. (John Fisken photos)
A dad and son team zing around third base and head for home.
“Over the outfield fence? More like it’s landing somewhere down around Deception Pass! Your puny fences can’t contain my power!!”
Safe, and he knows how to play to the camera. A superstar is born.
“I told ’em not to try and steal on me. I have a gun for an arm and ice water in my veins!!”
Today’s web gem.
Getting good wood (or aluminum) on the ball.
Mill Creek’s squad of diamond dandies.
North Whidbey’s finest (plus one girl from the South End).
Not all baseball games are about wins and losses.
Sometimes just taking the field is an accomplishment in itself.
Working with the North Whidbey Little League, Jason McDermott started the Challenger League this season for players who might not otherwise have gotten a chance to pick up a bat and mitt.
The league welcomes players with different levels of disabilities and gives them the chance to play in a fun environment.
Every player from both teams gets a chance to bat, and score-keeping is pushed aside in favor of building the player’s confidence.
A success in the first season, the league would like to continue to expand and draw in players from outside of Oak Harbor.
“There are a high number of Exceptional Family Members in the area,” McDermott said. “My goal for next season is to have more children play.”
This year’s roster included:
Amelia Bell
Austen Dearing
Eric Ennes
Thaddeus Garcia
Abdiel Martinez
Adrianna Martinez
Arianna Martinez
Caleb Randall
Amare Refuge
Tyriq Refuge
Zoe Thompson
Lydia Vaughan
Interested parents can contact McDermott at McDerJM@dshs.wa.gov for more information.
The photos above, which come to us courtesy John Fisken, capture the local team, the Mariners, facing off with the Mill Creek Royals.
To see more photos, pop over to:
Mariners — http://www.shutterfly.com/progal/album.jsp?aid=768a5498cf35e36aa503
Royals — http://www.shutterfly.com/progal/album.jsp?aid=768a5498cf35e3693076
Coupeville Sports 
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