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Batter up! Baseball league for players with disabilities marks 28th year

More than 500 players on 50 teams at Norfolk’s Azalea Little League complex for a weekend of fun

NORFOLK, Va. — More than 500 players on 50 teams met up at Norfolk’s Azalea Little League complex for the 28th annual Jake Hardison Memorial Challenger Jamboree.

It’s a baseball league for children and adults with physical or developmental disabilities.

“Being able to be with people that are similar in ability that appreciate each other's differences is a real blessing,” said Bobbie Hanes, the mother of a player.

It’s more than just a baseball game. For many players, it’s a chance to participate and play with friends - despite disabilities which might stop them from joining a traditional baseball team.

“Sometimes you take your special needs child out and you got to worry what other people are thinking or judging and here it doesn’t matter if they have a meltdown or whatever," co-chair Rosa Gregory said. "It doesn’t matter. Because we’ve all been in that boat and we just come together to support each other.”

The event started with a picnic and dance ahead of two days of baseball on Mother’s Day weekend.

In addition to baseball, families got to enjoy a game of mini golf, battle with Nerf guns, and a game of Twister.

All the participants get a medal for showing up and playing their best.

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