Challenger Catch Up!
It's been serveral weeks since our last post about Abbotsford Challenger, it's been busy! Here is a catch up post on what's been happening the last few weeks.
Saturday June 6
The Abbotsford Cardinals came out a second time to help
Saturday June 13
Next post will be an update on our Last Game and Team Wrap Up
We took the May long weekend off so families could get out of town. Then we were back at it.
Saturday May 23rd
Bantam AA came out a 2nd time to help with our game and they did another outstanding job. Its easy to see how much they got from the experience and how much the players enjoyed it,
Abby News Article on Cody
If you missed it there was a great article on the front page of the Abby News about one of our Challenger Players, Cody Mutch. Here an excerpt about the part on Challenger
He also recently began playing with Challenger Baseball, a newly formed division of the Abbotsford Angels Hardball Association. The team is for kids with disabilities who are paired with buddies to help them swing the bat and run the bases.Corinne prepared Cody for the new experience by reading books about baseball with him and having him feel the pieces of equipment, but initially he was overwhelmed with all the noise and the new environment.Corinne took him back to the park when nobody was there. They sat in the dugout and she had Cody run his hands along the chain-link fence, and run the bases. His next game with the team went much more smoothly, and Corinne anticipates continued improvement.
See the whole article here http://www.abbynews.com/news/305484191.html
Saturday May 30
Game and Team Pictures
Saturday June 6
The Abbotsford Cardinals came out a second time to help
BC CHALLENGER JAMBOREE IN BURNABY
Open Ceromonies started at 11AM.
Ronald McDonald was there and Bob Brown Bear.
We had a game in the morning, followed by a lunch break, a second game, and finally the closing cermonies.
A big highlight from the Jamboree day was many of our kids started to hit off pitching! Ethan blasted one out to the out field and Katelyn, Max, Eva, all tried hitting from a pitch.
Each player received a Medal and a Jamboree shirt. It was a great event and fun day.
Next post will be an update on our Last Game and Team Wrap Up
Game 4: Challenger Baseball
Abbotsford Challenger News and Game 4 Highlights
A Highlight for us this week was having the Bantam AA Team come out to the came. The players did a fantastic job being buddies. Thanks Players and Coaches!
Game 4, saw the Abbotsford Cardinals and the Abbotsford Bluejays facing off again. The weather was beautiful. The field was in great shape with freshly painted lines, on deck circles, and a big "A" for Angels behind home plate. [Thanks Bantam AA Coaches for the field setup]
We had three solid innings of baseball. It was a close game. Big offence from the Bluejays;
Jared had a huge day at the plate. In the first inning he hit a home run. Alexander went 3 for 3. Ethan also had a home run knocking in all the runners. Noah and Nathan both showed outstanding base running.
The Cardinals were an equal match with great defence, not giving up much. Eva made several good plays on the ball with good throws to first. Katelyn and Eva in the second inning teamed up on a short hit ball and made a play to 1st, with the blue jay runner just beating out the throw. On offence Alexander continued his hot streak at the plate. Along with Cody who has improved each week at the plate. Aydan and Max both continue to help out on offence and defence.
Great Game! Way to Go Blue Jays! Way to Go Cardinals! Another Entertaining game the fans loved it!
NEXT WEEK Our Guests will be the Abbotsford Cardinals Team
Highlights from Challenger Game Two
Challenger Game Two
Highlights:
Game two on Saturday April 18, 2015 at Ridgeview Park started with GREAT weather. The warmer weather really made it way more comfortable for the kids for game 2. Definitely one of the highlights from our second game was just seeing how much more comfortable the kids were coming to the field to play ball. Some of the kids that had a really hard time the first week, it was noticeable that they were having fun.
One of the kids who had a great week two was Cody. Cody pictured here rounding 3rd!
Way to go Cody!
Opening Day for Challenger
Saturday April 11, 2015
Opening Day!
What an exciting and fun day it was, Saturday April 11 at Ridgeview Park in Abbotsford. It was the opening day for Challenger Baseball. After the planning and the anticipation it was great to finally have our first game. The weather cooperated and sun even came out.
Thirteen players signed up for Challenger so far this season. Players were divided into two teams, "Cardinals" and "Blue Jays."
Thirteen volunteers signed up online to be buddies to assist the players during game. The volunteers included; Players, Coaches, and Parents from our association along with other members from the community. Volunteers arrived at 9:30 AM and put on a Challenger Volunteer Shirt. Before the players arrived we started with a quick buddy clinic to review the rules for being a buddy.
As players arrived they were given a uniform and paired with a buddy. Players and Buddy's played catch before the game.
Then it was Game Time!
It was an awesome opening day.
Toronto Blue Jays Support the Abbotsford Challenger Program
Thank You to the Toronto Blue Jays, the Jays Care Foundation, and Rogers Sportsnet for their incredible support to Abbotsford Challenger.
The Jays Care foundation provided all the equipment I needed to start the Challenger program in Abbotsford for this season.
The Jays Care foundation provided all the equipment I needed to start the Challenger program in Abbotsford for this season.
First Post
Welcome to the Abbotsford Challenger Baseball Blog!
Here is where you will find the latest news on the Abbotsford Challenger Baseball Program.
Challenger is a division of the Abbotsford Angels. This will be the first season for Challenger in Abbotsford. Our association is super excited to be able to include Challenger as a division this year.
Opening day for Challenger is April 11, 2015
If you would like more info on Challenger or would like to help with Challenger please email challenger@abbotsfordbaseball.ca
