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August 2014 36 www.sportseventsmagazine.com YOUTH Sports ▼ or visually impaired players, accessible dugouts and restrooms were included in the design. Within a short time, local and national media coverage of the Miracle League cre- ated an explosion of interest. "We saw a need and addressed it, the media told our story, and building Miracle Fields became a national cause, Alford said. Today, there are more than 270 Miracle Leagues in 47 states, Puerto Rico, Australia and Mexico, serving more than 200,000 children and young adults with disabilities. The goal, Alford said, is to offer the pro- gram to every city in the country so chil- dren, young adults and adults with special needs around the globe will have the opportunity to play baseball. Bonding Through Baseball A key component of Miracle League Baseball is that non-disabled "buddies" assist Miracle League players, helping them hit and field the ball and run the bases. Alford said buddies include main- stream children who play baseball, youth church groups, and Boy and Girl Scouts. The West Michigan Miracle League has attracted baseball players from Michigan State University, the West Michigan White Caps (a Detroit Tigers farm team) and other area colleges, according to Guswiler. Alford said the outpouring of volunteers who are buddies for Miracle League teams has been astounding. "Everyone seems to want to help out. We've even had Major League Baseball players take part." An unexpected benefit, she added, is that the program has inspired young main- stream baseball players. "A team in Westchester, New York, made a beautiful video, showing buddies and players not only interacting on the playing field, but also going to each other's homes after school to do homework and play video games together." A Dream Comes True Guswiler recalled that the first game last September drew more than 1,000 people, with traffic backed up to the nearby expressway. "We've had such an overwhelming response. Kids travel from as far as 90 miles away in order to participate." Comden said the first season, which was abbreviated, involved 44 kids on four teams, while the spring 2014 season grew to 65 kids on six teams. Having played baseball while he was growing up and having coached for his daughter's softball team, Comden said he is thrilled to be able to see his son, as well as all the kids involved, enjoy his favorite sport. "This is about baseball, but it's also about so much more than that," he said. "For most of these kids, so much of their lives are about what they can't do. With Miracle League baseball, we celebrate what they can do." ■