Healdsburg’s Wonder League makes baseball for all

The grass is freshly cut and the lines have been drawn,
symbolizing that baseball season is about to begin at the
Healdsburg Community Center baseball fields, but this year, the old
ballgame has a new team in town.
The Wonder League is kicking off their first year, sponsored by
the Rotary Club of Healdsburg Sunrise, providing an opportunity for
children with special needs to play baseball.
“I think it is a source of pride for us all to be able to do
something for our kids in the community and especially the kids
that need more help,” said Rotarian George Lawson who is
spearheading the league.
Lawson was a baseball player himself for the Pittsburg Pirates
Farm Organization and says that his true love for baseball came
within the last six years, volunteering for a special needs league
in Washington State, where he lived before moving to
Healdsburg.
In 2003, Lawson volunteered for The Miracle League, attending
the last game of their season and not knowing what to expect.
Because of his past experience in the sport, they had him playing
the umpire position to help children getting up to bat.
“This little girl, about 13 years old, beautiful face, beautiful
voice started off the game by singing the national anthem. When I
took a closer look at her I realized her body was about one and a
half the size of her head and you could almost hold her in one hand
and she didn’t have limbs, except one small part of her arm with
two appendages,” Lawson said.
“She was the first up to bat and I am immediately thinking that
I am going to have to help her and I getting a little worried
because I don’t want to damage her in some way,” he said. “But,
before I get a chance to help her, she jumped down from her
motorized wheelchair, grabs the bat with her two little fingers and
says, ‘bring it on.’”
The little girl hit the ball on the first pitch and before
Lawson can get over to her to help her back into her chair, she
took off toward first base, he recalls.
“She uses her arm and two fingers on the ground and hops,
reaches out and hops around the bases and she hit a home run!”
exclaimed Lawson.
After that experience, Lawson said he was committed to
volunteering with the league, and thought, “I have no problems, if
that little girl can do that, I can do anything” and from that day
forward he has participated in the Miracle League. Now that Lawson
has moved to Healdsburg, he would like to organize a league for
children in the North County.
“It is great for the kids to see spirit like that but also for
the volunteers, and that little girl is by far the most
inspirational person I have ever met,” said Lawson. “We can not
change the issues that life has dealt children with special needs,
what we can do is provide our children with an opportunity to
experience the joy and benefits that come from playing our national
pastime, baseball.”
The Wonder League will give each child an opportunity to hit the
ball, score a run during each inning and work with their assigned
buddy volunteer to run bases. The season will kick off on May 14
and runs through June 11 offering games every Saturday at 1:30
p.m.
For more information on becoming a volunteer or parents
interested in enrolling their children ages 4-19, contact George
Lawson at HB************@gm***.com or
by calling 433-8477.
Enrollment application forms can also be picked up at the
Healdsburg Community Center at Foss Creek, 1557 Healdsburg Ave.
Staff Writer Robin Hug can be reached at Ro***@hb*****.com.