WRALL’s Challenger League honored for work with special needs kids

It takes exceptional individuals to work with special education students.

The Special Education IMPACT awards, presented by the Georgia Learning Resources System, are given mostly to teachers. This year, Warner Robins American Little League’s Challenger League for special needs students also was honored.

The program has interested many eager teachers from other counties who want to know how to start their own league.

A luncheon was held Friday at Central Georgia Technical College in Macon to celebrate the award.

Zabrina Cannady, special education director for Houston County, said there was no doubt in her mind the program has made the most positive impact for special needs children in Houston County.

Through a partnership with the Houston County schools system, the league is able to bring the love of baseball to those who wouldn’t have a chance to play otherwise.

The league averages 80 players per year.

“It’s humbling to get an award,” said Georgia District 5 administrator and former WRALL president Jimmy Dunn.

The Challenger League plays Saturdays during the spring season of WRALL.

Awards were given out to Challenger players Saturday after the games.

For the first time, WRALL will host a Challenger Jamboree on Saturday starting at 11 a.m. at the Flint Energies Sports Complex. The league will play host to 10 Challenger League teams, four from Atlanta.

Challenger League vice president Andrea Sells said volunteers are needed to help with everything from raffles to being buddies for the participating children.

She encouraged people to attend the jamboree “even if they are just there to cheer.”

Dunn and his colleagues agree it’s not praise or awards that make the hours spent at the fields worth it.

“Our big reward is the smile on the kids’ and their parents’ faces,” Dunn said.

This story was originally published May 16, 2012 at 12:00 AM with the headline "WRALL’s Challenger League honored for work with special needs kids."