MIT Challenger Division About Love of the Game
Challenger Division in Second Year for Local Baseball Tournament
Some of the athletes that participated in last year’s first ever Challenger Division Game are pictured at right. Photo couresty MIT Baseball.
– Allison Goldsberry
On Sunday afternoon a very special group of athletes will meet at the baseball diamond at Medford’s Columbus Park for the sole purpose of having fun while enjoying America’s favorite pastime.
The Medford Invitational Tournament’s second annual Challenger Division day is not about who wins or loses, or how many homeruns are knocked out of the park, or even the score.
Instead, it’s about athletes coming together to enjoy the game of baseball, which is precisely what will happen when the MIT’s athletes take some time off from the competition and help children with physical and mental disabilities play some ball.
MIT President Ron Giovino called last year’s first Challenger Event a huge success and expects it to be even better this year.
“Thanks to our generous sponsors, the first Challenger Day was filled with an incomparable spirit of fun and athletic achievement. It was the greatest day of baseball I had ever seen. We are confident that this year’s event will be even bigger and better,” said Giovino.
According to Giovino, the Challenger Division is a separate division of Little League Baseball that enables boys and girls with mental and physical disabilities, ages 5-18 or who have completed high school, to enjoy the game of baseball along with millions of other children who participate in the sport worldwide.
Last year, the Wakefield and Malden teams assisted the Challenger athletes in a spirited game of baseball.
“These young athletes demonstrated the kind of drive and determination of a professional athlete. These kids stretched the limits of their abilities while having fun playing the game of baseball. They taught us all what this sport is all about,” said Giovino.
The MIT has invited players from all over the greater Boston area to Sunday’s Challenger Event, which will take place from 10AM to 5PM, with a game planned for 1PM.
The MIT is in its thirteenth year and is currently in its second week of competition. Ten local 12-year-old all-star teams, including one from Medford, are going head to head nearly every night at Columbus Park. The tournament concludes on Monday, August, 18 with its “Evening of Champions” game.
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