Miracle League of New Albany celebrates first opening day

Six baseball teams are taking the field tomorrow for an opening day that celebrates the spirit of inclusion.

State of play: The Miracle League of New Albany is debuting with a brand-new stadium built for players with disabilities.

• Organizers are still looking for volunteers to help with the inaugural 10-week season.

How it works: The game is designed to remove all barriers for players, league directors Denise and Brian Bell tell Axios.

• Rubberized turf is used instead of grass and dirt to accommodate those with walkers and wheelchairs.
• Each player is joined by a "buddy" who helps with batting, running and fielding.
• Games last two innings and all players get to hit and score a run. There are no strikeouts, so every game finishes with a lively grand slam.

The big picture: Miracle League is a nationwide organization with more than 200 participating communities.

• Dublin's league, along with a similar organization in Grove City known as "Buddy Ball," also celebrate opening day tomorrow.

Flashback: The Bells' oldest daughter played in the Dublin league for seven years, while other family members coached and served as buddies.

• Denise and Brian say the league was a safe haven where she could step away from doctors and therapy for one day a week and simply enjoy being a kid.

Between the foul lines: Their daughter's surgeon, Kevin Klingele, was inspired after watching a Dublin game and worked to organize the New Albany league.

• The city donated land and local donors funded the new ballpark on Swickard Woods Boulevard.

What they're saying: Not only has the league attracted 80 players from around Central Ohio, Brian notes, high school teams and church youth groups have already pledged to help this summer as buddies.

• "We couldn't be more excited for opening pitch."

Want to help? The league welcomes community volunteers to serve as buddies, announcers, national anthem singers and game day assistants.

• Sign up here.