It was back in the early 2000s when I had what turned out to be a very interesting conversation with Mike Martin of Bridgeport Physical Therapy. Martin was getting ready to start up the Challenger League Division of Bridgeport Little League and was looking for a little input on the idea.

 

After he explained it to me, I let him know that it was, without a doubt, a beautiful idea and was thrilled that he was pursuing it.  For those that don’t know, Challenger is the division of Little League for physically or mentally challenged youth to enjoy the baseball experience.

 

Martin, whose job had him working with plenty of children that would be able to take part, was hoping to get the word out and get kids involved. I was more than happy to help him share the word, but did ask him a favor.

 

As opposed to simply doing a story on the new division, I asked Martin if he had a youngster –preferably from Bridgeport or the city’s school feeder area – that I could talk to with to see how excited they were. A short time later, Martin called me back and had found a family that was really excited about the new league and the fact that their son would have a chance to play an organized sport like his siblings.

 

The youngsters name was Michael Wallace. In short order I was able to set everything up and head out to the family’s beautiful home in Harrison County.  I and my former photography colleague Bob Shaw – one of the best to ever wear a camera – headed out for me to do the interview and  for him to get some  photos for the story. And to be honest, it was great to meet this young man and family and the story turned out better than even I had hoped.

 

Even more important, Challenger Little League has turned out bigger and better than anyone could have imagined – all thanks to Mike and Kim Martin and a tremendous group of volunteers and donors who do nothing more than what they know they should do – care about children. In fact, this coming Saturday, season 13 of Challenger League will begin and there will likely be more than 100 children taking part from places all across North Central West Virginia (more on that this week on Connect) and lives – of those playing and watching – will change for the good because of it.

 

Yet as things often do, I hadn’t heard from Michael personally since that interview. It had actually been years since I had even saw him. The last I remember of him was that he was helping my friends and Coaches Bill Shaver and John Minnocci as a team manager for the Bridgeport Middle School basketball team.

 

This past week that changed thanks to a conversation with Hannah Cantrell who many may know for her work here in the Connect offices. Incredibly, her fiancé and Michael are not only good friends, but he will be in their upcoming wedding. What was great about the conversation is I was once again looking to put a face on the Challenger League and why it is – without any logical argument that can be presented – the single best sports experience anyone can experience in this area.

 

In short order, Hannah got in touch with Michael to see if he would be interested in telling me how he’s doing more than a decade later. As it turned out, he didn’t mind talking to me. And I’m glad he did as he once again confirmed what I already know – Challenger League makes an impact that can last a lifetime.

 

Wallace was 11 years old when I last talked to him. He’s now 24 years old and is enjoying still relatively new status as a student in a field that should have him employed quite nicely once his studies are completed. But to get to this point may have seemed a difficult journey. After all, few people have had to face down what Wallace has faced in nearly a quarter century on this Earth.

 

Now, as he had then, Wallace faces a disease known as Osteogenesis Impefecta. In layman’s terms, it’s known as “Brittle Bones Disease.” In 2002, Wallace had already endured 30 surgeries because of various breaks. Today, he’s lost count, but said it’s closer to 70.

 

At the time, though, the fact that his disease led to broken bones wasn’t the problem. It was that the broken bones didn’t allow him to play sports.

 

“You’re going to school and everyone was playing and I wasn’t able to. It was really so cool to get out there and do something like,” said Wallace. “I finally had an opportunity to do it and I can’t explain to you how that felt because I never had the experience. It was kind of overwhelming to finally be able to compete athletically like my brothers. I still remember that experience to this day.”

 

The experience came about because Wallace was one of the patients that Martin dealt with at BPT. Wallace said he was able to get two years out of the League before additional injuries put an end to it.

 

“He asked to play and I told him I definitely wanted to play, but it stunk to get hurt again,” said Wallace. “Still, it was important during that time to just go out and be a kid. It did something else, too. It gave me a confidence boost. “

 

It is confidence that has served him well. He graduated from Bridgeport High School in 2009 and is now in the first semester of a two-year program at the Robert C. Byrd National Aerospace Education Center here in Bridgeport.

 

“I’m taking classes and my plan is to graduate from the program and leave with an Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) certification,” said Wallace. “I want to be an aerospace mechanic.”

 

For Wallace, tackling the rigors of the program should come easy. He’s already tackled problems and cleared hurdles most wouldn’t see if they lived to be 100. And Wallace said he’s so very thankful for Challenger League and the person who got him involved.

 

“What do you say about Mike Martin? He’s a heckuva guy that has been so very important in my life,” said Wallace. “He’s incredible and he’s patient and I saw that first hand working with so many of the kids in Challenger. He’s terrific with everyone. To be able to put into words exactly what he means to me is something I don’t think I could do other than to so he means a lot.”

 

This Saturday, another chapter of Challenger League will start. There will be another Michael Wallace out there. And there will be another happy ending.

 

Be sure and go and thank Mike and Kim Martin, those that volunteer and provide the resources to make it possible. Trust me when I tell you, seeing these children play – whether they’re autistic, suffering from physical ailments or a somewhat broken body at times like Wallace has had to deal with – will make you whole.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Michael Wallace today as a student, while the second photo is back from his playing days in the Challenger League. In the bottom photo is a basketball of the 2004-05 West Virginia University Elite 8 men's basketball team that Mike Martin was able to get for him that Wallace said "still sits in his room to this day." Photos courtesy of Michael Wallace.