With all due respect to the great athletic programs and games at Bridgeport High School, prior to COVID-19 there was nothing any of those teams could do to say they ended the year with the greatest sporting event of a calendar year.

 

Seriously. The best part about it? If the participants of the teams and the parents involved knew why I said it, they would almost certainly agree.

 

You see for the last several years, almost two decades to be exact, everyone – heck you can take it out of the county and across the state – were upstaged by what took place each spring on a ball field in Bridgeport; most recently the Bridgeport Recreation Complex. It is going to be the same this year, and it does not even start until this coming Saturday, April 17

 

Ladies and Gentlemen, on that day season number 18 of the Challenger League Division of Little League Baseball here in Bridgeport will hold its opening day. Last year was the only year where someone else could claim the throne during those 18 years as having a better sporting event as COVID officially canceled the entire campaign.

 

This Saturday, though, things will be back to normal. The greatest sporting event anyone has ever witnessed will return.

 

“We’re thrilled. We really are and that’s the case even though we didn’t know what it would be like in the pandemic and with the kids being away for a year,” said league co-founder Mike Martin, who works diligently with his wife Kim and others to make this a go.

 

Turns out, Martin found out pretty quickly everything was going to be just fine.

 

“We sent out a phone call to everyone that participated in the past to let them know the season was coming back and one of those calls went to a patient whose nephew played the last time we played and I asked if their nephew got the call,” Martin said. “They told me that was all they were talking about and that they couldn’t wait. Any doubts I had went right out the window.”

 

Martin, a bit of a perfectionist whose heart is as big as they come, should never have had to worry. He has a group of participants that do everything in the game of baseball simply for what it was intended for – to have fun.

 

For those that may not know, the Challenger Division is set up for youngsters dealing with any type of physical or mental issues. Martin said they have vision impaired participants that include individuals completely blind, autistic athletes and those with cerebral palsy, spina bifida, chromosomal disorders and various other conditions.

 

It is because of those conditions that the league is returning, but not everything can be exactly the same. COVID-19 is creating some modifications that we will get to here briefly that have not gone completely away.

 

“I can’t tell you how heartbreaking and disappointing it was to know those kids couldn’t play last year. The whole world was facing the same situation,” said Martin. “One thing we learned, is COVID does not care about these kids.”

 

The good news is the Martin family and his merry band of volunteers and sponsors that make the league 100 percent free do care. They care deeply enough to make sure this season is as safe as it is fun.

 

“We’re going to consult with medical professionals, doctors about anything over and above what we already know that we should do,” said Martin. “We’re working with (Bridgeport Parks and Recreation Director) Joe (Shuttleworth) on other guidelines that we have to follow. Whatever we’re told to do to allow the kids to play we’ll comply with. It’s that important.”

 

“We also know that some parents will be hesitant to have their kids play, and we understand that,” Martin continued. “We want anyone with a child involved to know they will have a place here when they’re ready to come back.”

 

The good news is most should be back. Martin said he anticipates 90 participants ages four through 25, which is down from 92 in 2019, to be part of eight different teams.

 

While most of the players are back to the Challenger League, one key component will not be there in its entirety. And Martin said it is one of the most difficult parts of the season.

 

“We had to eliminate the buddy system,” said Martin.

 

The buddy system was created to pair up children from the Bridgeport Little League, as well as other youth from the area, to help those playing. When it first started, Martin was hoping to have one buddy for each player. In 2019, he had more than two per player.

 

“We printed out 250 buddy shirts and we ran out. That’s how many kids come to help,” said Martin. “It is one of the best parts of the experience, but the risk of exposure is too great with a lot of kids that age that cannot be vaccinated.”

 

Martin said the buddy experience has done exactly what he had hoped after seeing the benefit decades ago serving as a physical therapist at Easter Seals camps. He saw how teaming up a child with no special needs with a special needs child created a bond and friendship that lasted well after the event ended.

 

“In grade school, those with special needs are accepted. It’s when they get older that they’re left out, and are over on the side,” said Martin. “I don’t think kids are necessarily mean to them, but they’re not included.

 

“Our hope was those relationships would carry over from the ball field to the schools,” he continued. “It did. The Bridgeport kids have been exceptional and now we have kids involved at their schools in sports, plays and other activities and the best part is that they do it with their friends. We have some buddies that have been friends now for close to two decades. That’s extremely rewarding.”

 

To get the season going, parents and relatives of the players will be the buddies. While that will work, Martin said there is still a window to be a buddy.

 

“If there is anybody that has been vaccinated and wants to be a buddy, they should get ahold of us on a Facebook (search for Bridgeport Challenger League),” said Martin. “Send us a (private) message and we’d love to have some buddies, even if it’s just a few.”

 

What else may be limited to “a few” could be the spectators. Right now, Martin is hoping to hold a 1 p.m. opening day ceremony Saturday for all participants on all teams. However, he is not certain that is allowed.

 

“Right now, we’ve been told gatherings are capped at 100 people or less. We know with our kids we would easily surpass that number with all teams there,” Martin said. “I should have an answer this week and we have to modify the ceremony we will; perhaps do it before each game and have an abbreviated opening day event. I do know those kids love to hear their names and the applause so, in some way, we’ll be doing that.”

 

Martin said to, again, check the Facebook page for the league to see the status. In the past, outsiders with no affiliation to the league also attended. That, too, will be addressed once Martin is given the guidelines and he said he hopes “people will understand” if they cannot attend if they do not have a family member involved. I am certain they will.

 

“They guidelines change frequently so that’s why we’re waiting until the week before,” said Martin. “We’re still excited and can’t wait. My wife and I are looking forward to it.”

 

There are roughly 90 kids and a whole lot of others looking forward to it as well. After all, it is the only sporting event that is guaranteed to be the best sporting event you will ever see.

 

Editor's Note: Top three photos shows some action at past Challenger League opening days, while organizers Mike and Kim Martin are shown below. All photos by Ben Queen Photography.