Hamilton YMCA's Miracle League of Mercer County aims to keep expanding as it marks 10 years of service.
HAMILTON - Hamilton YMCA's Miracle League of Mercer County, a non-competitive baseball league for children with developmental or physical disabilities, marked 10 years of service during its opening games held Sept. 12.
The seven-week fall season kicked off at the Miracle Field in Hamilton with 60 participants, Executive Director of the Miracle League of Mercer County Dan Sczweck said, adding the league was formed in 2005 as a "family-fun experience."
"The objective is to allow kids to play baseball who may otherwise not have had the opportunity," Sczweck said. "It's for the parents too to come have a hot dog, watch the kids run around the bases. They can kind of relax."
Music, games and food vendors are always available for the family, friends and players not on the field.
Sczweck said currently 25 high school and college students assist at the games, but the organization is always looking for more volunteers and sponsors.
Recently, he said the Trenton Thunder became a sponsor for the Miracle League and just before its season ended, the Thunder invited all of the players out on the field with them.
"That was a great experience," Sczweck said. "They had players come out and high-five all of the kids. Trenton Thunder has helped big time to get the word out."
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Sczweck said each Miracle League player gets a personal jersey for whichever major league team they want.
"If they are a Mets fan, they get a Mets jersey," Sczweck said.
The players also get a nickname that is used to introduce them when they step out onto the field, Sczweck said.
He said each player gets to bat twice per game. There is a seven-week fall season and an eight-week spring season.
"It allows kids with any type of disability to be on the field just to have fun and play," Sczweck said.
The league has two upcoming fundraising events, its annual Golf Outing on Sept. 28 at the Old York Country Club in Chesterfield and a food and cheer tasting at the Sawmill Facility in Hamilton on Sept. 24 to benefit the Special Kids Organized Recreation program.
Sczweck said these fundraisers help spread the word, raise money and connect with volunteers and sponsors for the league.
"We have a great group of volunteers," Sczweck said. "We're always looking for more volunteers, new partners and connections to improve the league."
Lindsay Rittenhouse may be reached at lrittenhouse@njadvancemedia.com. Find NJ.com on Facebook.