FOX VALLEY, Wis. — After missing out last year due to the pandemic, players, coaches and families are thrilled to be back on the diamond again.

Every young baseball player loves getting a hit and crossing home plate. Miracle League players may enjoy it the most.

What You Need To Know

  • Miracle League of the Fox Valley returns after lost COVID-19 year.
  • Miracle League provides a place for kids with mental and physical disabilities to play baseball.
  • Over 300 volunteers contribute to the program.

“You know that this is a special event every moment we step on that field,” said Miracle League coach Nathan Haberman. 

Each new batter is greeted with cheers. Some hit off a pitcher while others use the batting tee. After hearing her name chanted throughout the ballpark, Emma, with a big smile, politely thanked the crowd before hitting a single. This brought even greater applause.

“It makes a difference in all these kids’ lives,” Haberman said. “They look forward to it all week. They look forward to it all school year. They talk about it all day and it becomes the highlight of their summer.”

The Miracle League is comprised of children with developmental and/or physical disabilities, including Haberman’s son, Mason. Haberman said Mason enjoys participating in baseball because he sees other kids his age playing the game.

“These are kids with special needs that have an opportunity to do stuff that they see their normal mainstream friends do,” Haberman said. “They get to do the same thing and enjoy that moment.”

Those moments are a little sweeter this year for everyone involved. Last season was lost to the pandemic, leaving many kids without their favorite summer event.

“It was hard,” said Kailee Vander Loop, Miracle League of the Fox Valley Program Leader. “A lot of these kids don’t have other opportunities to get involved so when we had to put the program on pause, everyone was disappointed but of course it was the right thing to do at the time.”

Haberman’s been involved for five years, initially as a volunteer and now as a coach. Mason missed playing last year, he said.

“It was tough. I know that my son personally talked about it regularly,” Haberman said.

The league is powered by over 300 volunteers, while others volunteer as “buddies,” who help players with batting, base running and fielding.

Volunteer announcer Chip Wood said the Miracle League is the highlight of his week. He recalled the first game back for the league after the year off.

“It was overwhelming,” Wood said. “Pure unadulterated joy is all you can say. The smiles on the faces of the kids as they come around third, heading home. Seeing their buddies being so passionate and cheering them on and the crowd just screaming at the top of their lungs for people they don’t even know. It just shows you what community is all about.”

Vander Loop, who now leads the league, started as a volunteer and coached for 4 years.

“Kids were just thrilled to be out here, back with their buddies,” Vander Loop said. ”Whatever success looks like, it’s different for each kid, but it’s celebrated here. I think that’s special.”

The games are played at the John Wollner Fox Cities Miracle Field. There are seven other diamonds in Appleton’s Memorial Park, but none are likely to be louder than the Miracle Field. The sheer joy seen on each child’s face is amplified by parents, volunteers, friends and strangers.

“You don’t have to know somebody with special needs to come out to these games,” Haberman said. “You can just watch them. I’ll tell you what, it will be worth your while.”

The Miracle League of the Fox Valley is back and likely appreciated now more than ever. More information on the Miracle League can be found on its website.