4th Annual H.A.L.L. Challenger Games Dates Announced

Date:  May 31st, 2015
Time:  1:00PM
Location:  Hopkins Area Little League (Maetzold Fields)

Coach Jahnke is excited to announce that the Hopkins American Legion Baseball Teams will once again participate in the Challenger Division ballgames on May 31st at 1:00pm at Hopkins Area Little League (H.A.L.L.).  This annual event has become a highlight for the Legion Baseball Program in recent years, providing the Flyers and Millers with an opportunity to volunteer their time, give back, and help others. During the game, the Flyers and Millers players pair up with the Challenger Division players, and assist them with some of the aspects of the game that may need assistance in.  They have come to be known by the Challenger Division players as, “the Big Blue Buddies.”    

This special event has been an incredible experience for all those involved over the course of the last three years.  Sincere thanks and gratitude are due to Kevin Athmann, former Hopkins Diamond Club President, and Sarah Boggess, H.A.L.L. Little League Challenger Division Director, for helping to coordinate this tremendous event for our American Legion Baseball Programs.  

In 2014, the Hopkins Challenger Division was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to play a game on Target Field during the All-Star Game festivities with former Twins greats, including Rod Carew.  To see Major League Baseball’s video montage of our own H.A.L.L. Challenger athletes in action, click here.

A brief history of The Challenger Division of Little League Baseball
The Challenger Division of Little League Baseball was established in 1989 as a separate division of Little League to enable boys and girls with physical and mental challenges, ages 4-18, or up to age 22 if still enrolled in high school, to enjoy the game of baseball along with the millions of other children who participate in this sport worldwide.  Today, more than 30,000 children participate in more than 900 Challenger Divisions worldwide.  Teams are set up according to abilities, rather than age, and can include as many as 15-20 players. Challenger games can be played as tee ball games, coach pitch, player pitch, or a combination of the three.  

In a Challenger game, each player gets a chance to bat. The side is retired when the offense has batted through the roster, or when a pre-determined number of runs have been scored, or when three outs are recorded.  Challenger players wear the same uniforms, shoulder patches and safety equipment as other Little League players.For more information about the great work that H.A.L.L. is doing with the Little League Challenger Division right here in Hopkins, please visit them online by clicking here.