Mason High Softball Team, Best Buddies Chapter Share Field in Monumental Game

There were no differences between anyone Thursday afternoon when the George Mason High School varsity softball team played against the school's Best Buddies chapter.

There were no fans and no announcers. It was just a chance for kids to be kids and play.

Maeve Curtin, president of the Mason chapter of Best Buddies, said she planned the event to show everyone that people with disabilities were no different from anyone else.

“The students who are disabled are marginalized,” said Curtin, a junior at the school. “I wanted to do something like this instead of watching a movie inside.”

Curtin said she and varsity softball Head Coach Brian Fowler worked together to organize the game. Mason softball players matched up against a team of Best Buddies members for a few innings of softball. Best Buddies got the best of the Mustangs 12-4 in the game that Fowler said he wants to see happen every year. According to their website, Best Buddies International was founded in 1989 and is dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Mason chapter has 50 members, Curtin said.

Fowler made sure his team took time to play in the game though it was just hours before they faced off at home against Warren County High. The coach said the game was an important one that needed to be played to show everyone is the same.

“When Maeve came to me and told me this is what she wanted to do, I thought it was a great idea,” Fowler said. “I think this is an annual event in the making.”

Sam Civitate, program manager for Best Buddies Virginia, thought the game was a great opportunity for students in Best Buddies to come out and showcase they’re just like everyone else. With 42 schools to tend to, Civitate said the Mason chapter has really strong leadership and do a great job of planning events.

“Hopefully through events like this, we can get more exposure to show we’re all alike,” Civitate said. “They all like the same things.”