Miracle League volunteers after playing baseball with the kids on March 2024. (Photo courtesy of Carter Moore)
On a sunny Saturday, children in baseball uniforms laughed and got ready to play.Birds were chirping and the breeze was cool. Parents cheered from the stands. Unlike most youth baseball programs, volunteers stood by to assist as needed. The Miracle Leagueallows children to play baseball, regardless of their mental or physical disabilities.Grace Markos and her buddy resting before the next game, March 2024. (Photo courtesy of Darrin Fisher) This year, TCU students were invited to volunteer as buddies to the players. “I was paired with Seth,” said Mckenna Perez, a sophomore nursing major. “He’s in a wheelchair but has a great love for baseball. I got to push him base to base, and I loved being able to spend time with him.”In each game, the volunteers are assigned a child to assist throughout the game. They engage with the players and guide them as they do things like run the bases. The children and the student volunteers helped each other enjoy the experience.“It is always fun to make an impact on someone’s life,” said Nate Proffitt, a sophomore business major. There were three separate games, starting at 9 a.m. and lasting until noon. Different athletes played in each game. “It was awesome to go out there and make a kid’s day,” said Matt Dengler, a sophomore business major. “I had a great time and I definitely want to volunteer again.”For more information and to volunteer check out the organization’s Instagram.
