Snohomish County Explosion Supports Miracles in Monroe

April 17, 2008 - International Basketball League (IBL)
Snohomish County Explosion News Release


MONROE, Wash. - April 17, 2008 - Baseball, not basketball, will be the focus of the Snohomish County Explosion Basketball Team Saturday, April 26, at Lake Tye Park for the season opener of the Miracle League of Monroe. Explosion players and staff will be volunteering on the field from 8:45 to 11:30am to help disabled athletes realize their dream of participating in one of America's greatest pastimes.

The Miracle League is a youth baseball league for children with special needs who haven't had the opportunity to participate in more traditional league settings. Each player gets the chance to suit up and score with assistance from community volunteers called "able bodied buddies". These buddies help with plays on the field and in the dugout.

Brad Sturlaugson, General Manager of the Snohomish County Explosion, will be volunteering as an able bodied buddy in Saturday's game.

"The Explosion Organization is very proud to be a part of the Miracle League here in Monroe," said Sturlaugson. "It is such a great event to participate in. They need our ongoing community support and involvement. It gives these kids a chance to experience positive feedback and feelings of accomplishment in an outdoor atmosphere."

Collette Reams, the Rotary Miracle League Coordinator for Monroe, has watched the program grow from seven to sixty participants over the past eight years. She has worked with players from the beginning and knows the importance of experiencing what the Miracle League has to offer.

"There are so many life lessons out there. It's a league where everybody's accepted, everybody hits and everybody scores. Everyone supports each other and there are no outs."

The Rotary has been fundraising over the past eight years to build a disabled access field for the Miracle League. They have finally reached their goal of one million dollars and are now in the early stages of production. The field is designed with custom-made, cushioned synthetic turf to accommodate wheelchairs and walkers, and easy access dugouts.

For more information about the Miracle League, visit www.miracleleague.com or go to www.monroemiracle.org to learn more about the Miracle League of Monroe. There are currently 200 Miracle League Organizations across the U.S. serving over 80,000 children and young adults with disabilities.



International Basketball League Stories from April 17, 2008


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