There are no outs, no scoring and everyone gets to bat. But the players take their participation in the Miracle League of North Alabama seriously.

Susan Ashmore says her son, Brenan, can’t wait for Saturday when the league kicks off the season.

“This is the third season that Brenan has played, but he had to miss a lot last year, so he is anxious for this season to begin,” said Ashmore. “He watches his big brother play, so he’s really excited that he gets to play too.”

The Miracle League of North Alabama is a baseball league dedicated to providing mentally and/or physically challenged children with the opportunity to participate in organized sports.

Brenan, a second-grade student at Creekside Elementary School, was born with hydrocephalus and has undergone nearly 40 operations since then to help stop symptoms of the undiagnosed syndrome that resulted. Shunts drain fluid from his head and spinal cord and he is frequently in pain.

Saturday’s kick-off begins at 11 a.m. at the Field of Dreams — Field 6 — at Brahan Spring Park in Huntsville. The development of the Field of Dreams with its painted rubber surface was completed last year through the efforts and support from the City of Huntsville’s Parks and Recreation Department and many financial supporters of the Miracle League, according to League President Johnny Franklin. 

“The city of Huntsville has made improvements to the parking areas surrounding the field, which help ease accessibility for the players and their families,” said Franklin.

The community is invited to the opening day ceremonies, which will be followed by pizza, dessert, soft drinks and exhibition games.

Franklin said 126 children are signed up to play on 10 teams this year. Games are scheduled on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays throughout the season.

“This is the first year for Saturday games,” said Ashmore. “We had eight teams last year, but we had as many as 15 on a team. We got more volunteer coaches, so we could have more teams. Johnny has been talking about breaking it up into minor and major leagues so the older players could have their own league.”

Miracle League is geared toward participants between the ages of 5 to 24. All of the programs under the Miracle League of North Alabama are run at no cost to participants. All the equipment and complete uniforms, as well as the awards presented to participants at an awards banquet for each sport, are provided free of charge.

The league, with the motto, “Give Ability a Chance,” offers Little League baseball, basketball, bowling and volleyball to the children of Madison, Marshall, Morgan, Limestone and Lauderdale counties and some counties of southern middle Tennessee.

Sponsors include Kiwanis Club International and several Kiwanis clubs in and around Huntsville; United Space Alliance; Boeing; Adventure Travel; Redstone Federal Credit Union; Colsa Corp.; Lockheed Martin; North Alabama Educators Credit Union; HIWAAY Internet Services and First Protective.

“We cannot change or cure whatever life has dealt our children,” said Franklin. “What we can do is provide them with an opportunity to play.”