Journal_8_challenger

Sports are important for FAS kids. They so much want to be a part of something and a good place to start is with some kind of sport.

We reside in Northern California and we are fortunate enough to have Challenger Baseball. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Challenger Baseball, here is a little bit of history.

Jerry Pack, a local Sacramento, CA resident and Chief Umpire for District 7 Little League Baseball went to Reno, NV to a State Little League Convention in 1987. While there, he saw a film about a new program that was starting in either Connecticut or Texas. It was for *special needs children.* He was very impressed with the film and the program. When he returned to Sacramento, he set up a meeting with the Administrator of District 7, Chuck Evans, and told him that he would like to start a program like that here in Sacramento. Chuck gave his okay.

The first year, Jerry went looking for money to start the program. He would need equipment, insurance, uniforms and more. He collected about $1000.00 from various sources. Back then, if you didn't know someone in a special needs school, you had no access to parents or children. So, he had achieved a part of his goal. He had the money but no kids.

The following year, he talked to the head of the Sacramento Parks and Recreation. He said he had the kids but no money to fund a program or pay for insurance. Since the kids could be covered under Little League Insurance, a beautiful partnership happened. That year he had enough kids to make 4 teams of players. He scouted around for uniforms and equipment. He found it through the regular Little League. Items that they no longer needed or used. That year the kids played ball!

In the early years, he depended on alot of the parents for help. He still does. I haven't been a coach but I have sponsored a team for the last 4 years. Isaac has played every year that he has been able and it has been one of the most enjoyable and rewarding experiences that we both have had.

If you are interested in this program and live in the Sacramento area, please contact Jerry and Karen Pack via email or call them at 916 381-0898. They will put you on a mailing list and/or let you know where and when signups are online. For areas outside of Sacramento, please contact the Little League Baseball Western Regional Headquarters at 909 887-6444 or email at westregion@littleleague.org. Please let them know that it is for children 5-18.