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Wyoming Valley Challenger Little League seeks volunteers as season opens May 10
Summary
City health department and local partners briefed Wilkes-Barre City Council on the adaptive Challenger Little League program, which offers free, accessible baseball for players with intellectual or physical disabilities and expects 137 participants this year.
Ian Malloy, a Health Department representative, and Rick Drust of People’s Security Bank and Trust told the Wilkes-Barre City Council on April 24 that the Wyoming Valley Challenger Little League — an adaptive baseball program for players with intellectual or physical disabilities — opens its season May 10 at Evercore Field at the BOG.
The presentation summarized Challenger Little League history, safety and child-protection practices, and local programming. Malloy said the program is supported by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and local sponsors and emphasized that “no player is ever denied based on inability to pay.” Drust, who serves as treasurer of the Wyoming Valley Challenger Little League, described campus partnerships that supply “buddies” — volunteer helpers who assist players on the field — and noted college and minor-league teams that provide event support.
The nut graf: The program provides inclusion-focused recreation for people with disabilities and relies on volunteers and city support. Malloy and Drust told the council the league offers full seasons without registration fees, uses safety-vetted volunteers, and runs games designed to keep play fun and not exhausting for participants.
Malloy gave program details the council and public heard: Challenger Little League officially formed nationally in 1989; the division serves ages 4–18 (and up to 22 if enrolled in school), with a senior division for older players. Locally, the Wyoming Valley Challenger program holds preseason events at King’s College and four special Sundays at PNC Park in Moosic where RailRiders players serve as buddies.
Malloy and Drust provided local participation numbers and logistics: the program drew about 39 participants in 2015, 119 last year and has 137 children signed up for the current season. Opening day is scheduled for May 10 at 11 a.m. at Evercore Field at the BOG, with Knoebels Park trips and trophies for all players at season’s end. Malloy said Egglands Best Eggs is sponsoring the team’s appearance as an exhibition team at the International Little League World Series broadcast.
Malloy asked for volunteers and buddies; when a council member asked about volunteering, Drust said, “We will take volunteers day in and day out. Yes.” The presenters asked families and community members to help with transportation, field maintenance and event-day support.
The presentation closed with council expressions of thanks to program organizers and reminders about the opening-day date and location.
