PCL1 Round Rock Express

Express Miracle Field Groundbreaking Set for Saturday, May 6

Published on April 27, 2006 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


Round Rock, TX (April 27, 2006) - There's no such thing as a small miracle. Sometimes it's as simple as a child gaining a sense of fulfillment and ability. Others come in the form of gifts of time, effort, and resources. But all miracles change lives, and all of these will come together this Saturday at noon with the groundbreaking of Express Miracle Field at the Town and Country Optimists Club.

Set to open this fall at the 96-acre Town and Country Sports Complex near the intersection of Parmer Lane and Hwy 620, Express Miracle Field will launch the Austin chapter of the Miracle League. Founded in Atlanta in 1998 with the idea that "every child deserves a chance to play baseball," the league now boasts 143 organizations nationwide, many of which play on a rubberized field provides easy access and maneuvering for all children. They use regular bats and balls - the only thing "special" is the rulebook.

Every player bats once each inning

All base runners are safe

Every player scores a run before the inning is over (last one up gets a home run)

Community children and volunteers serve as 'buddies' to assist the players

Each team and each player wins every game

When T & C Optimists incoming president Steve Brown saw a story on the league on HBO Real Sports, he knew that not only was bringing it to the Austin area a perfect venture for the youth-focused club, but that they were destined to team with the Express.

"The first people that I thought about for naming rights were the Express," he said. "It's the perfect match - we wanted to try to keep it a local field."

Once Reid Ryan got a hold of the concept, he gathered his partners with Ryan Sanders Baseball, the Express, and the Nolan Ryan Foundation, and shared his passion and enthusiasm for the project. Together they pledged $250,000, and the Express have made it the center of this year's charitable efforts.

"We'd focused on kids charities every year here," Reid said. "But this was the first thing that tied in to what we do and enabled us to give back. We felt like we needed to do it."

"When Reid brought this to me and I saw the video, I thought it was a great idea," added Nolan. "Our foundation is founded on education and children, and I think it was a natural fit."

Their response and participation have overwhelmed Brown. "It's one thing for a corporation to throw money at something - that's great," he said. "But they've been so involved - Nicole [Ryan, Reid's wife] is on our board, and they've done so much. It's exactly what we were looking for."

As impressive as the Ryan-led team's contribution is, they're not alone. Numerous other local businesses have pitched in - among them, Hellas Construction is donating all site work, labor, and equipment; Cunningham/Allen is supplying the engineering; and architect Michael Antenora has added his expertise to the mix. Still, Brown says, the volunteer-run Optimists are about $100,000 away from reaching their goals - raising a half-million dollars for the project, and with it, building "the premier Miracle League field in the United States." To make an online donation, visit www.austinmiracleleague.org. There are many opportunities to donate at different levels and multiple forms of sponsorships available.

Already underway with their spring season at the complex, the league has also seen an overwhelming turnout of buddies - most of which have come from outreach efforts at Vista Ridge, Cedar Park, and Westwood high schools.

"The buddies have been so amazing," said Brown, whose three children all volunteer for the league. "At first there's a little apprehension, in terms of how to treat the child, but after a while they really form a bond to where some of the buddies don't even see the disabilities anymore - they're just out there having fun."

That mentality rubs off on both the children and their families. Emma Hilland has been overjoyed to watch her 13 year-old son Ben flourish in the Miracle League, and said it's become his favorite among the many sports and leagues he plays in. "It gives him a sense of normalcy he doesn't have," she said. "Most sports he plays have adaptive equipment, but there's no special equipment here. Here, he's like everyone else - he's just a kid."

WHAT: Express Miracle Field Groundbreaking

WHEN: Saturday, May 6

TIME: Noon - 1 PM

WHERE: Town and Country Sports Complex, located off Anderson Mill Road on Morris Road.

DIRECTIONS

FROM ROUND ROCK: Take 620 to Parmer Lane. Turn right on Anderson Mill Road. Turn right on Morris Road. Travel down Morris Road and the field will be on the left.

FROM AUSTIN: Take MOPAC North, exit Parmer Lane. Turn left on Parmer Lane. Stay on Parmer Lane until the Anderson Mill Road intersection. Turn left on Anderson Mill Road. Turn right on Morris Road. Travel down Morris Road and the field will be on the left.

FROM HIGHWAY 183: From 183 North, exit Anderson Mill Road. Turn right on Anderson Mill and proceed to Morris Road. Travel down Morris Road and the field will be on the left.

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