Mike and Kim Martin were not exactly sure what they were getting into 20 years ago. It was at that time that Mike had approached his wife about something he saw on the internet that may be a good fit for Bridgeport.

 

What he saw was the Challenger Division of Little League.

 

“He asked me what I thought. I said absolutely; let’s try it,” said Kim. “I figured we would do it a few years and, if everything worked well, someone else would take it over. Then, once you saw that it worked and those kids became family, you can’t step away.”

 

Kim Martin remembers exactly when she knew the commitment was not going to be a few years, even if she and her husband were not sure it was going to be a few decades. And she knew it on the very first official day of Challenger League.

 

“Our very first practice, there was a child sitting in his wheelchair and it was raining,” said Kim. “His name was Robert Hill, and he was looking out of the dugout with his head hanging, and Mike told him he may have to wait, but it might stop raining.

 

“He looked up and said he had ‘been waiting for the day my entire life.’ I knew right then,” she continued. “We just lost Robert, and we’ve lost some of our kids over the years, but to know you can make an impact by just letting them play is a good feeling I can’t describe.”

 

The good news is that you can get the feeling yourself. The better news is that it is free.

 

This coming Saturday, April 16, the 20^th anniversary of the Bridgeport Challenger League will begin with the annual opening day ceremonies at the Bridgeport Recreation Complex. The starting time is 1 p.m.

 

With all due respect to every other sporting event in Bridgeport at every level – and for that matter the rest of the state – this is the best sporting event you can attend. And once you have attended, you will know it is not even close.

 

As a quick refresher, Challenger League is the division of Little League Baseball that Martin said is for individuals with physical, mental, or emotional conditions that prevent them from playing in basic Little League. Those participating have autism, are blind or vision-impaired, have cerebral palsy, spina bifida or any number of conditions that prevent them from being able to take part in the other division of Little League. Martin said the majority of those participating in the Bridgeport division are autistic.

 

That, however, is not what makes the league special.

 

What makes it special is the league is joy. Actually, the league is pure, unfiltered joy. There is no booing, there are no sad faces, there is no yelling at the umpires or parents arguing or trying to position themselves to get their child on some elite travel team.

 

No, this is not just baseball at its purest. It is sports and joy at its purest and it is there in droves. It has been that way for the past 20 years after starting in 2002, although the 2020 season was scrapped due to COVID.

 

“It’s really awesome that we’ve been here for 20 years. It shows it was really needed, and I think you can see that in the numbers,” said Martin.

 

The numbers have grown. From a few dozen early on, to nearly hitting 100 in recent years as this year there are 96 kids from seven or eight counties, which is up a bit after many children and their families opted to sit out last year due to COVID concerns in 2021.

 

Those athletes make up eight teams in three divisions. There are two teams in the 5-11-year-old group, four teams in the 12-and-up group, and two teams in the high functioning group.

 

“The high functioning groups are older kids that can throw and hit fairly well. They play hard and that’s where we keep score and they can get out,” said Mike.

 

The high functioning league says all you need to know about Bridgeport Challenger. Those involved decided several years ago to allow some kids to play in that league and keep score and either get on base or get out – with one caveat. Players were told, as were those actively involved, the format would be scrapped if arguments or any problems arose.

 

“We still haven’t had any issues with keeping score or being too competitive. There is one exception, and that is when the kids play the parents,” Mike laughed. “I don’t see that division going anywhere.”

 

One thing did disappear last year – and that was the buddies. To help acclimate the kids into the process, players from Little League along with middle school and high school students would join in on the fun. That was abandoned last year due to COVID to try and keep the Challenger players in as isolated a situation as possible as many have compromised immune systems.

 

“We’ll be going out in the community with announcements looking for buddies,” said Mike.

 

In the past, there have been more than the Martins ever expected. And if you want to be a buddy, who assists the Challenger players during games and become lifelong friends, visit the Challenger Facebook page HERE and send a private message.

 

“This is going to be the first season since I’ve been retired to do this,” said Mike, who worked for years as the owner and operator of Bridgeport Physical Therapy. “I used to work 10-hour days and do this and was only able to do it thanks to all the work Kim did. I’m not nearly as tired as I was in the past and I think I’m more excited for this year because I feel like I have more energy than ever before.”

 

Mike and Kim Martin are encouraging the community to come out, even if you do not know anyone involved. I can assure you it is good for the soul, and it does something else.

 

“It really means a lot to the kids to have people cheering for them in the stands,” said Mike. “I think if you come, you’ll see the true purpose of sports, which we have gotten too far away from in this country. It’s supposed to be joyful and now you have so much competition and stress, even at the youth level. That doesn’t exist on our fields because they show up to play and have fun in something they were previously left out of.

 

“It’s a blessing to be a part of it, and I think a blessing for anyone who gets to take it in,” he continued. “I’d like to do this for 20 more years.”

 

Kim Martin said there will be some surprises this year for the kids. They also hope to have some special guests for opening day, although nothing has been finalized. What she said is finalized is what will take place this coming Saturday and through the upcoming Challenger season.

 

“The kids show up and leave happy,” said Kim. “Anytime you make someone happy, you’re doing what God put you on this earth to do.”

 

Editor's Note: Photos show some action from last year's season taken from the 2021 Challenger League video. The second photo shows league founders Mike and Kim Martin.