Silver Cross Field becomes Field of Dreams

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Silver Cross Field becomes Field of Dreams

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/heraldnews/sports/1043838,4_2_JO08_

GSMIRACLE_S1.article

By Gregg

Walking up to the tee, sizing up the ball and swinging away.

Something every little leaguer has done, nothing special -- to most.

For the ballplayers and their parents at the Miracle League of

Joliet, however, it means two things in particular. A way to bond and

a needed reprieve.

It's almost indescribable -- that treasured bond between father and

son formed on ball fields across America. And the Miracle League

ensures that every child, regardless of ability, or disability, may

know the feeling.

Carl Maurer shared this bond with his three eldest sons -- Nick, 14,

, 12 and , 9. " My older boys are really good, " Carl Maurer

said. " They have the athletic capability, are smart and really play

the game with purpose. But it's different with Dominic. "

Dominic Maurer, 6, is developmentally delayed to the point where he

is unable to speak and has some orthopedic issues which effect his

ability to walk, but thanks to the Miracle League, Dominic can

partake in America's beloved pastime.

" Dominic will never be able to do things that 'normal' kids do, and I

know that, " Carl Maurer said. " And I'm not going to kid myself and

think that, 'Oh gee, by playing baseball Dominic is somehow normal.'

On the other hand, what this does for him is let him do something he

sees his brothers doing, it lets him do something he sees on TV and

it just gives me the opportunity to do something unique with Dominic

on a father and son level that I just never would have been able to

do otherwise.

" Fathers coach their son's little league team, they throw the ball

back and forth to them. There is a really magical bond around

baseball that fathers develop with their sons. And while I'll never

have the same baseball bond with Dominic that I do with the other

boys, I have some baseball bond with him. And that really is a

special experience and I'm very thankful to the Miracle League for

making that happen. "

Also thankful to the league is Alvin Sizemore Jr.

" Of course you feel a little bit sad when sometimes you'll other kids

running around and playing and you think, 'Why can't my kid do that

and get to play like all the other kids get to play,' " Sizemore said.

Sizemore's son, Lawson, 5, has Charcot Marie Tooth disorder which

wreaks havoc on Lawson's nervous system, hindering his ability to use

the muscles in his hands and feet.

But the disorder can't touch Lawson's passion for baseball.

" Oh, he loves it, " Alvin Sizemore Jr. said. " He is one of those kids

who loves baseball. I mean that's all he wants to do. When I get home

from work we have to play ball every night just about, so the Miracle

League lets him get out there and play just like at the big leagues. "

The Miracle League plays its games on Saturday mornings and is

anticipating the arrival of its second season, starting on Sept. 9,

with over 85 registered children already.

The games are played on a specialized rubber field within the

confines of Silver Cross Field in downtown Joliet. The surface is

soft enough to protect its participants from any unwanted bumps and

bruises.

" And there is some flopping around, " Maurer said as he praised the

quality of the diamond.

The games last only 2 innings, but every player gets a hit and a

chance to take the field.

At the end of each inning, the last bat in the lineup gets to clear

the bases and earn their very own home run.

Score is not kept and it is impossible to find any losers on Saturday

mornings, almost as hard as it is able to find disabled children.

" On that day, spirits are so high, that you forget the disabilities, "

Lawson's mother, Marleen said. " When you walk in the gates of the

Miracle League, you don't see a disability on any child, you just see

kids playing baseball. It takes some of the pressure of the family,

getting to see a child doing something he loves and having fun doing

it.

" We don't see a disability, we don't see doctor's appointments, we

just see our children playing the American pastime, it's a great

thing. "