The Miracle League of the Ohio Valley will be special guests of West Liberty University’s Student Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) at historic Kovalick Field on Saturday, May 3, when the Hilltopper baseball team hosts Ohio County rival Wheeling Jesuit in a 1 p.m. doubleheader.
The Miracle League is an all-inclusive special-needs baseball team for kids of all ages with games played at the specially-constructed J.B. Chambers Miracle League Field. The WLU and WJU baseball teams have been involved with the Miracle League program almost from the start.
“Each Miracle League player is assigned a ‘buddy’ to help them with whatever assistance and support they need during their games at the Miracle League Field,” West Liberty head coach Eric Burkle said. “Our players and Wheeling Jesuit’s players have done this a few times and it’s been great.
“The Miracle League kids are such an inspiration but it’s probably as much fun for us as it is for them. We’re really looking forward to it.”
According to West Liberty SAAC faculty advisor Kayla Fetsko, registration for the Miracle League players will begin around 11:15 p.m. Saturday as the college teams wrap up batting practice. At 11:30, the Miracle Leaguers will be escorted onto the Kovalick Field diamond for an up close and personal look at the playing field.
As game time approaches, the Miracle League players will accompany their ‘buddies’ to the dugout before being introduced along with the West Liberty and Wheeling Jesuit players as part of the “starting lineup.”
Finally, a special viewing section will be set aside in the spectator area for the Miracle League players. Each Miracle Leaguer will receive a free T-shirt along with pizza and drinks while they watch the action.
The SAAC assists Hilltopper athletics in providing community engagement opportunities and other outreach experiences to its athletes. Fetsko also is the head women’s volleyball coach. For more information, contact Fetsko at kayla.fetsko@westliberty.edu.