Kudos for making baseball accessible

I would like to tip my hat to the board of directors for Tri-Cities Little League (TCLL). Prior to the start of the current baseball/softball season, the board of directors for TCLL approved two significant initiatives that will affect the lives of children in our community for years to come.

The first was merging with Meadowdale Little League. Meadowdale was on the brink of closing its doors after 50 plus years of serving children. While the merger was not without controversy, it was really a no-brainer as far as the board was concerned. Providing opportunities for kids to play baseball was the top priority.

The second was starting a Challenger Division, which provides baseball opportunities for kids with special needs. By taking on this added responsibility, kids who would not typically play baseball now have the opportunity to play and be a part of a team. An added benefit is that each special needs child is paired with a buddy from the league who helps teach him or her the game.

I attended opening ceremonies at South End Park in West Dundee for the newly developed Challenger Division. Seeing children with special needs playing the game was a blessing.

Thank you for investing in the lives of young people. Although these two child-centered initiatives have absorbed a great deal of time and resource on the part of the board, the investment is priceless. I commend President Craig Slack and the board of directors for making all children in our community a priority.

Bill Doran

Gilberts