By Hamilton Richardson
Elmore/Autauga News Staff Writer
Saturday, March 19, was a spectacular day at the Prattville YMCA’s Field of Dreams as kids cheered, played, laughed and made their families proud.
The Field of Dreams is a special needs baseball league at the Prattville YMCA. It serves children and adults who are physically or mentally challenged that causes them to be excluded from traditional baseball leagues.
June Dorough, the YMCA’s Ability Program Senior Coordinator, said that the league was built and started in 2015 with four teams of six to eight participants playing baseball.
“On Opening day this past Saturday, there were 10 teams with 10-12 players on each team,” she said, adding that the players were ages five to 67-years-old.
“The Field of Dreams offers sports and programs to anyone with any type of disability,” Dorough further explained. “It removes all the boundaries and lets the participants be their true selves.”
Dorough started as a volunteer coach in 2017 and was hired to help run the program by the end of that year.
“The program is no longer just baseball, but so much more,” the coordinator commented. “We offer baseball, kickball, flag football, cheerleading, and sports clinics for basketball, tennis, volleyball and soccer. We also have a big Valentine, Halloween and Christmas event, a special needs expo along with a few more surprises throughout the year.”
Dorough also said that her desire is to offer as much as possible to her special friends in the community and to give them fun opportunities that otherwise they wouldn’t be able to participate.
“The participants love when the stands are full, so please come out to any of our games and help cheer these amazing athletes on. You will definitely leave with a full heart,” she said.
Those interested in the Prattville YMCA Field of Dreams League, contact Dorough at (334) 558-1367 or through email at [email protected]
Information can also be found on Facebook at Prattville YMCA Field of Dreams. See more team photos and the remaining schedule of games below.
