CHALLENGER BASEBALL
January, 2017
Dear Baseball Players, Parents, Teachers, Therapists and Guardians:
Welcome to another exciting season of Horsham Little League Challenger Baseball
(http://horshamlittleleague.com/custom_page?pageid=1170)! I am writing to give you updates
on the registration process, and the 2017 season.
Last year, I created a site (https://horshamchallengernews.shutterfly.com/) that I update
regularly, as the most efficient way to communicate with our families without losing messages in
spam filters. That site should be your first stop for current Challenger information. I have also
posted at that site information on sports for persons with disabilities in general, in addition to
updates for our league.
Opening Day this year will be handled differently than in the past, because of the frequency of
weather cancellations. Games will begin in early April, subject to weather. However, the
traditional Opening Day ceremony will be held later in the month, in mid-morning to allow more
families to attend. The formal ceremony will follow the same structure as in the past, with a
parade and awards ceremony, but after the morning Challenger games. I encourage our families
to stay for the ceremony. I will send details, and dates for picture day and for uniform pickup,
when they have been set.
You should register for the Challenger Division exclusively through the process in this memo.
You may see information about online registration at the Horsham Little League website
(www.horshamlittleleague.com), or have received an email message recently announcing the
opening of online registration. You should only use that procedure for your players who will
play in a division other than Challenger. Because Challenger operates on a different timetable,
and is funded differently, the coaches handle all registration ourselves. In addition, you will not
see your Challenger player listed on the Horsham Little League registration process or website.
Challenger baseball is the division of Little League for players with intellectual or physical
disabilities. We play noncompetitive games twice per week (on Saturday mornings, and on
Tuesday or Thursday afternoons) at Deep Meadow Park, on Horsham Road. We don’t keep
score, and there are no hits or outs – our sole purpose it to have fun, while being physically
active. We welcome players of all ages who have different abilities of all types, both physical
and intellectual, and who may simply need a little more time or attention than typical players. A
general description of Challenger baseball appears at
http://www.littleleague.org/Assets/forms_pubs/divisions/ChallengerBrochure.pdf.
We welcome players of all ages (whether or not over 18). In 2014, Little League adopted a rule
clarifying that there is no maximum age for senior players.
(http://www.littleleague.org/media/challenger/senior-challenger-faq.htm) If you have any
questions about participation for your older player, please feel free to send me an email or call
me at 215-241-8866.
As in the past, the league’s online registration system does not permit families to register
multiple players in both Challenger and one of the other divisions; there is no space to designate
the Challenger division. Please do not select an incorrect division for your Challenger player,
since that could affect the team selection in other divisions. Instead, you should register your
players for all divisions other than Challenger using the online system, and then register your
Challenger athlete using the mail-in form in this message.
As in prior years, the league requires no registration fee for Challenger division - Horsham Little
League has never prevented a player (whether in Challenger or the regular divisions) from
playing if his or her parents could not afford the registration fee. The Horsham Rotary Club,
Horsham Little League and anonymous individual donors defray the costs of the program for
Challenger players whose family cannot afford the registration fee.
However, we ask those who can afford to pay to contribute all or part of the $135.00 fee. (The
fee for two players is $225, and for three or more players is $300.) In addition, the league does
not currently plan to require a fundraiser. Please note that there is no late fee for registration in
Horsham Challenger Little League - Challenger registration continues throughout the
season. Our focus is on participation, at whatever point in the season a player finds us.
The regular Horsham Little League fees are $135 for a single player, $225 for two players, and
$300 for three or more. If you register your other player online, you should simply pay by
check, with your Challenger registration, only what the difference would have been had you
registered online to get a multiple player discount. (There is no fee difference for registration of
a single player.) For example, if you register two players who are not in Challenger (for $225),
you should pay only $75 for your player in Challenger (the difference between the $300 fee for
three or more players, and the $225 fee for two players). If you have only two players, please
pay $90 (the difference between the $225 fee for two players, and the $135 fee for one
player). If you happen to see this in mid-season, we can still accommodate your player (although
the team assignment may be based on what size shirts we have left). In prior years, we have
registered players even as late as a week before the end of the season.
In addition, please ask your friends and classmates if their players would like to play Challenger
baseball, since we can always use additional players (the minimum age is 4). If you have a
contact person for the Special Education program in your district, or for a special needs program,
please send me that person’s name (or feel free to forward this message) so that as many
potential players and coaches as possible can learn about our league.
To register, please see or download the registration form at the end of this message, and send
the completed form (along with your check, if applicable, payable to “Horsham Little League”)
to one of our long time coaches:
Bob Immerman
715 Marietta Drive
Ambler, PA 19002
We would like to place our order for uniforms by mid February, so it is important that we get
back your registration form as soon as possible.
In the past some parents have mentioned that their player does not need a new shirt, because the
old one still fits. I have added a line for that request to the form, to help cut our uniform costs,
but please be sure to have your player try on the old shirt before you check that option. I know
that my son was always growing into my clothes, and the shirt that was fine last year may not fit
now.
Challenger also needs volunteers to help with activities, uniform distribution, fund raising, and
coaching – everyone is welcome to help. This will be especially true this year, since I want to
involve more parents in operation of the Challenger division.
In particular, I would like a volunteer to carry the Juniors equipment, who is willing to commit to
attend each game, or find a substitute. Since I work in center city, and SEPTA has had
challenges this year, I am not sure I will be able to get to the fields by game time (much less the
45 minutes ahead of time that I tried for). I would appreciate having another parent who can be
responsible for holding our equipment bag, and making sure that it is on site at the fields by 5:30
on weekday nights, and by 8:30 on weekends. Ideally, that person could also take responsibility
to circulate cancellation notices on days with bad weather, or to confirm that we will try to play
on days with uncertain weather. I can provide instructions on these tasks if you may be
interested. If you are interested, please inform Stan Jaskiewicz at [email protected] or
by phone at 215-241-8866.
Since I have coached or run the league since 2005, and my son has not played Challenger ball for
several years, I am also interested in a suggestion from parents last year, to form a “Challenger
board” to share the responsibilities of running the league (making schedules, ordering uniforms,
ensuring coach coverage of all games, planning special events, etc.). Even if you don’t want to
commit to being involved in such management, there are always things that you can do to help
run our league, and new volunteers (especially those with special needs experience) are always
welcome.
All volunteers who will be in potential contact with children other than their own must download
and return the league’s security clearance form. This year there are two versions – one is for
new volunteers (http://horshamlittleleague.com/uploads/1478799646.pdf), and the other is for
those who volunteered last season (http://horshamlittleleague.com/uploads/1478799674.pdf).
You can complete this form online, download and save it, and print it out and fill it in.
Little League rules require that I submit a new form every year for every coach or person in
direct contact with our players, even returning coaches and youth volunteers.
To anticipate a common question, you must include the SSN of the volunteer for Little League
Baseball’s clearance checking software on the new volunteer form. If you have concerns about
sending an SSN over the internet or email, you can email me the form completed with all
information other than SSN; then call me (by phone) with the SSN, and I will physically deliver
that form to the league officer who does the clearance checks, at the monthly board meeting
(rather than send it by email). He will then shred the forms with SSN’s.
With our recent growth, we also can use more on the field buddies. I have attached and pasted in
this message an appeal for youth volunteers, but please feel free to circulate it to persons who
you think may be interested, or to youth or other groups whose members need service hours.
(Please let me know if you would like me to send it to you as a Word attachment.)
As I have said many times, I believe our recent seasons have been quite special because of the
number of youth buddies we had helping our players, both from Horsham Little League and from
other Little Leagues in Montgomery and Bucks County. Students contemplating a career in
special education or working with persons with disabilities may find Challenger baseball a good
way to gain experience. Two of our Buddies even held a bake sale to benefit Challenger, and
Kevin Barron (and other youth volunteers) run an annual baseball tournament to raise funds to
build a dedicated Challenger Miracle League field, and continues to solicit support for that
project. You can find information on his project at
http://kpbarron96.wixsite.com/miraclefield/about.
If you feel that your player in Juniors is ready to move up to the Seniors division, please contact
me or one of the other coaches, so that we may place him or her on the appropriate team. In
addition, we are always open to ideas about how to improve the league or change our
procedures; just send them to me or one of the other coaches.
We will circulate further scheduling details as soon as possible via the Challenger information
website at https://horshamchallengernews.shutterfly.com/.
Since we provide all communications by email, it is important, if possible, that we have a
working email address from each family. If your email is filtered for spam or other reasons,
please permit email from [email protected] so that you do not miss any important
messages.
For those who have not seen a Challenger game, videos of prior Challenger exhibition games at
the Little League World Series are online at
http://videos.littleleague.org/video/2016/08/31/2016+Challenger+Exhibition-c2MnRtNTE6 and
https://youtu.be/dGAinxi14-s . (We run our games slightly differently, but this will give you an
idea of what to expect.) http://horshamlittleleague.com/custom_page?pageid=1170
Finally, each year I like to include examples of persons with disabilities who have not been
limited by them, and of persons who support athletes with disabilities. This year I have decided
to feature the Phillies’ own Zach Eflin, and the story of his family and, especially, his sister. His
description of his sister’s arm strength reminds me of many of our players, whose throws come
in so hard that I must catch them in the web, rather than in the palm of my glove.
http://www.mcall.com/sports/baseball/ironpigs/mc-fathers-day-ironpigs-zach-eflin-061820160618-story.html
Baseball: An escape for Zach Eflin, his father
By Tom Housenick
As many baseball memories as Zach Eflin has of his dad, Larry — he has countless — the
moments that are closest to his heart are those of his father on the field with someone else.
Zach, a recent call-up by the Phillies to fill a spot in their starting rotation, speaks proudly
about how his father helped create a Challenger Little League in the family's hometown of
Oviedo, Fla. The tremendous devotion and time commitment meant Zach's sister, Candace,
who has special needs, had a place to show off her unbelievable arm.
"That was huge," Zach said. "He has taken the time to care for my sister, whatever she
needs. That's a big memory for me because she means so much to me."
Larry said Candace, 24, is globally developmentally delayed after what is believed to be a
lack of oxygen during her birth.
According to KidsGrowth.com, being globally developmentally delayed is characterized by
lower intellectual functioning and accompanied by limitations in communication and self
care, among other things.
"She understands everything," Larry said. "She's a bright girl. You just can't give her too
many commands in a row."
You can give her a baseball though.
"She's got a cannon of an arm," Larry added. "Zach's friends, when they first saw her throw,
said she's got the best arm in the family."
Baseball has been a huge outlet for the entire Eflin family. They have needed it.
Two decades ago, Ashley, the second of Zach's three older sisters, battled leukemia. After
receiving a bone marrow transplant from Candace, she was cancer-free before dying of
pneumocystis pneumonia.
Ashley's passing brought obvious emotional trauma throughout the Eflin household.
"It was like someone rolled a hand grenade under the table, blowing everyone in different
directions," Larry recalled.
Larry and his wife, Catherine, divorced.
Despite being overwhelmed with grief, Larry recognized the one place he had to be, wanted
to be.
"I realized that I couldn't change that that happened," he said. "So, I had to change
everything else. I started focusing all of my attention on my kids."
For a time, Larry worked two jobs to put food on the table. He has spent the last 23 years
working at the University of Central Florida as a waste water operator.
Larry is tending to his children's needs when he is not working.
When Zach was 4 years old, he and Candace, 6, played T-ball together in Oviedo. As Zach
worked his way through Little League, Candace was a 12 year old playing with 7 and 8 year
old boys.
It was a mismatch … just not the way you would think.
"It got to the point where I didn't feel comfortable, that Candace was going to hurt
somebody because of how hard she was throwing the ball, and some 7 and 8yearold boys
can't catch."
That stirred thoughts in Larry's mind about his daughter's future in a game she clearly
enjoyed. There was a Challenger Baseball league in existence, but it didn't serve the needs
and desires of those participating, he thought.
There were no rules, no uniforms and it was played at 5 o'clock on Saturday afternoons.
Larry made it so instruction was part of the process and, in conjunction with Oviedo Little
League, got uniforms for everyone. No score was kept, but rules were enforced and parents
were not allowed on the field during the games.
Larry teamed with Jill Woodard, who did not have a special needs child in the program, to
have siblings and buddies from area high schools aid in instructing the players.
It went over well.
"I don't know who got more out of it," Larry said. "The players or Zach and his friends."
The Challenger Baseball League blossomed during Larry's 11 seasons of involvement and the
participants grew to love the game.
"It was huge for Candace to play sports and get outdoors," Zach said. "It turned into having
15 kids the first year to close to 100."
As Candace got the chance each week to show off her strong right arm, Zach became a
pitching prospect. It didn't come, however, without bumps in the road.
Larry was an athlete in high school and attended Temple for a year back in the 1970s. He
believed sports provided a wonderful outlet for him and his children.
It became more, thanks to life's curveballs.
"It was kind of our escape from reality," Larry said. "Zach thrived on having that release
from his life. It kept his mind busy."
Though Larry did everything he could for his only son, he knew Zach was being
shortchanged even with three strong, supportive grandparents in his life.
"There are some things dads teach their sons and some things moms teach their sons,"
Larry said. "Zach missed out on that female influence in his life."
Zach blossomed as an early teen traveling 20 to 30 miles to play in Babe Ruth tournaments,
then garnered attention from college recruiters and pro scouts. It was thanks to Jered
Goodwin, who coached one of the country's top travel teams as well as the Hagerty High
School team.
"He went from “Zach my son” to “Zach the pitcher people are coming to look at,"
Larry said.
In Zach's sophomore year at Hagerty High, he told his father he was going to quit baseball.
Larry responded simply by telling Zach that it would be his responsibility to tell Goodwin.
After a week of putting it off, Zach went to Goodwin's office and said that he wasn't quitting.
"From that point, baseball was not Dad's passion," Larry said. "It was his passion. It was a
clear breaking point in him deciding what he wanted to do with his life."
On June 4, 2012, there were family member, friends, coaches and advisers in the Eflin home
waiting for news about the major league draft. Zach, at 6 foot 6, 215pounds, was projected to
be chosen anywhere between the 15th and 30th picks.
The first 30 picks came and went, and Eflin still had no idea where he would be later that
summer.
"It is amazing how slow the process is when you are hoping your name gets called," Larry
recalled.
After the Minnesota Twins took fellow pitcher Jose Berrios with the first pick in the
Compensation A round in between the first and second rounds, Eflin got the call from the
Padres.
Eflin spent his first three professional seasons in the San Diego minor leagues before being
traded twice in two days in December 2014, eventually landing in the Phillies organization.
Larry saw his son pitch several times last season with Double A Reading, this spring training
in Clearwater and during the Phillies Futures Game in late March in Reading.
He traveled to Toronto last Tuesday to watch his son make his major league debut against
the Blue Jays and is at Citizens Bank Park today to see Zach pitch against the
Diamondbacks.
Regardless of the outcome of his Father's Day start or any other he makes in the future,
Zach is thrilled to be on a baseball field with his dad close by.
"He's done a lot more than he realizes," Zach said. "I'm thankful he's been my father and
best friend."
[email protected]
Twitter @TomHousenick
6108206651
_________________
Finally, I also note a Major League baseball all-star who stepped up to support the Challenger
program in the city where he plays.
http://www.littleleague.org/media/llnewsarchive/2015/September-December/felix-hernandezdonates-to-challenger-division.htm
If anyone has any contacts with professional athletes or entertainers who may be interested in
supporting our Challenger program, please let me know so that we can plan how to approach
them, whether for support for Kevin Barron’s Miracle Field project, or for a special event for the
2017 Challenger season.
P.S. It is only 96 days until the start of games for our 2017 season!
2017 CHALLENGER BASEBALL REGISTRATION
LAST NAME OF ATHLETE:
___________________________________
FIRST NAME OF ATHLETE: ___________________________________
AGE ___________________ BIRTHDAY: ______________
ADDRESS (including zip code)
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
E-MAIL ______________________________________________
DAY PHONE _______________________________
EVENING PHONE ___________________________
PARENT/GUARDIAN(S) __________________________________
PARENT E-MAIL _____________________________________________
PARENT E-MAIL _____________________________________________
UNIFORM SHIRT SIZE (sizes tend to run small):
Youth
small__ medium__ large__ (Youth XL is an adult small)
Adult
small__ medium__ large__ Xlarge__ 2Xlarge__
___ My player’s shirt still fits, and I do not need a new one. (Note that boys receive a hat, and girls
receive a visor; let us know if you need a new one this year.)
IF PRIOR PLAYER:
DIVISION:
Juniors ________
COLOR:
Blue: ________
Seniors ________
Yellow ________
Registration Fee (Please mark as appropriate – Late fees do not apply to Challenger Division.):
Number of players:
____ 1 - $135.00
____ 2 - $225.00
____ 3 or more - $300.00
Note: The Challenger Division requires no registration fee, but asks those who can do so to pay all or
part of the registration fee. The Horsham Rotary Club, the Horsham Little League and anonymous
individuals defray the costs of the program not covered by registration.
PLEASE MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: HORSHAM LITTLE LEAGUE
SEND REGISTRATION FORM AND CHECK TO:
Bob Immerman
715 Marietta Drive
Ambler, PA 19002
Anything else you feel the coaches should know about your player:
_____________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Please call Stan Jaskiewicz if you have any suggestions or questions at 215-241-8866.
2017 CHALLENGER BASEBALL REGISTRATION (continuation page)
•
I/We, the parents/guardians of __________________________, an applicant for a position on a
Horsham Challenger Little League team, hereby give my/our approval to participate in any and all Little
League activities, including transportation to and from the activities.
•
I/We know that participation in baseball or softball may result in serious injuries and protective
equipment does not prevent all injuries to players, and do hereby waive, release, absolve, indemnify, and
agree to hold harmless Horsham Little League Baseball, Inc., Little League Baseball, Incorporated, the
organizers, sponsors, supervisors, participants, and persons transporting my/our player to and from
activities from any claim arising out of any injury to my/our player whether the result of negligence or for
any other cause.
I/We hereby give my permission to Horsham Little League Baseball, Inc, and its Challenger
Division (hereafter known as LLB), to use photographs of the above listed minor or person with a
disability in any publication, media release, promotional announcement or advertisement, electronic or
otherwise, in connection with publicity for the Challenger Division of Horsham Little League Baseball,
Inc., or for other support of the Challenger Division, and I release the LLB, and all employees, volunteers,
related parties, or other organizations associated with the activity from any and all liability from such use
and publication. Such use could include publications, media releases, announcements, electronic or
otherwise, and on league websites or social media pages. I agree that neither the above listed minor or
person with a disability, nor I, will receive any compensation if such image appears in such publication,
media release, promotional announcement or advertisement, electronic or otherwise. I understand that
such image is the property of LLB.
___________________________________
PARENT SIGNATURE
___________________________________
Printed Name
Date: ___________________________________
___________________________________
PARENT SIGNATURE
___________________________________
Printed Name
Date: ___________________________________
Challenge
Challenger Baseball in Horsham!
Do You Have What it Takes to be a Buddy?
Don't walk behind me; I may not lead.
Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow.
Just walk beside me, and be my friend.
By volunteering as a Buddy, you can help baseball players who are just like your children, siblings or friends, but
who happen to have a disability, in the Horsham Little League Challenger Division
(http://horshamlittleleague.com/custom_page?pageid=1170). With over 70 families playing in recent years, we need
"Buddies" to help our players in the field, running the bases and batting. Challenger baseball not only develops
physical skills, but also gives players the confidence and self esteem to succeed, both on and off the playing field.
We play at Deep Meadow Park during the months of April, May, and June, every Saturday morning at 9, and
alternating Tuesday and Thursday afternoons at 6:15. No special training is required, other than patience, a cheerful
attitude and a willingness to help others - you qualify to be a Challenger buddy if you can give a high 5, a big smile,
or any other form of encouragement. Service credit is available for consistent participation by students.
If you or your player would like to help, please contact Challenger Player Agent Stan Jaskiewicz at
[email protected] or at 215-241-8866. Please feel free to circulate this message to your players and others
who may be interested in volunteering – all volunteers must pass a Little League background check, and satisfy
Horsham Little League’s implementation of Pennsylvania’s Child Protective Services Law. (See
http://horshamlittleleague.com/custom_page?pageid=1157 and http://keepkidssafe.pa.gov/index.htm). . Little
League publishes "Buddy Guidelines" for Challenger Division at
http://www.littleleague.org/Assets/forms_pubs/divisions/Challenger_GamePlayGuidelinesForBuddies.pdf
According to a Middle Eastern proverb, a man walked past a beggar and suffering persons, and asked, "Why, oh
God, do you not do something for these people?" To which God replied, "I did do something, I made you."