Challenger Little League in Nearby Athens Opens Its Doors to Everyone

David Meyers loves baseball. He played it as a kid growing up in Athens. His children play baseball. He's been the president of the Athens Little League--which comes with a myriad of duties, by the way.

Though he's no longer the league president, Meyers, a UGA employee, loves baseball so much that he helped shepherd through a proposal to start a Challenger Baseball League in Athens, so that special needs children could learn to enjoy baseball as well. Little League International has a Challenger League, and Meyers wanted Athens to have one, too. 

Now all that's needed are players.

"Any accommodation we need to make to get kids on the field, we'll make it," he said. "We can take kids in wheelchairs. Kids with developmental and physical delays. We just want them to play."

Through the spring, the Athens Little League will sponsor a series of "mingles," during which Challenger-eligible players--ages 5 to 15--take the field with standard Little League players. It's a way for those not familiar with baseball to test it out and learn if they can like, and play, it.

While there is a charge to play Little League, there's no charge to attend a mingle, Meyers said. They are designed to build interest in the game. If there's enough interest, then a Challenger League could be launched in the fall or next spring.

For the first few mingles, parents are encouraged to stay and even to volunteer.  The dates of the mingles haven't yet been set, so watch Athens Patch for more details. If you have questions, contact the Athens Little League via email by clicking here.