Miracle League of Joplin

Guest contributor Louise Secker, Board President of the Miracle League of Joplin, writes about her organization and ways that community members can get involved.

In my continuing quest to find an alternative to my youngest daughter’s constant “activity” of playing on the iPad or staring at the television, I asked her to come up with a list of hobbies that she would be interested in trying – either by herself or together.

She put together some great ideas, and somewhere midway down her list – around number five – was “volunteering.” It warmed my heart! She and I share an interest in several area charities and she recognizes that volunteering can be a very rewarding and fun hobby…. Yay!

If you love kids, or you love sports, you’ll see the best of both at Miracle League of Joplin. The Miracle League  is a baseball league for children with disabilities. The league runs for 6 weeks in the spring and 6 weeks in the fall.

It’s a great morning of baseball, where teams (using the officially licensed Major League Baseball team names and uniforms) play on a field specially-built for walkers and wheelchairs. The rubberized, smooth surface makes for an easy trip around the bases.

Volunteers are needed because each player is assigned a “buddy” to help where needed – whether it’s to swing the bat, run the bases (you may be pushing a wheelchair if the child needs it) or just to stand on the sidelines and cheer. It’s truly a great experience, and worth a trip to the field.

Also, the field has a handicap-accessible playground on the property, so kids and their families can play any time of year.

Thanks to a recent grant the league received from the Joplin Rotary Club, more bleachers will soon be added for spectators, along with a small fence around the playground and other field enhancements.

The Miracle League plays at the Will Norton Miracle Field, located at the Joplin Athletic Complex.  The field is named in memory of Will Norton, a Joplin High School graduate who died in the 2011 tornado.  The field is easy to spot, just look for the big baseball bats and beautiful fountain.

Click here for a volunteer application.

Louise Secker, Board President

Miracle League of Joplin

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Living Life to The Fullest!

I love seeking out new experiences and finding places off the beaten path. I started Joplin MO Life in August 2013 as a way to share my discoveries with others in the Joplin community so that they can learn about the resources that exist right in their own backyards.

I have worked in education and event planning, and have always loved to write. I hold a master's degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma and a bachelor's degree in marketing from Tulane University.