Miles and miles of smiles
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| Chris Padgett/cpadgett@svnmail.com Niatha Cullen of Oregon High School cheers on Valerie Forster, of Kreider Services in Dixon on Wednesday morning. ( ()) |
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BYRON – Larry Young spent 23 years as a Major League Baseball umpire.
The Oregon native also has 30 years experience officiating Special Olympics basketball and volleyball, in addition to some time spent umpiring rec-league softball.
Wednesday marked Young's first time behind the plate on a Special Olympics softball field. MLB's umpire supervisor was one of the many volunteers who helped the Area 1 Special Olympics softball tournament happen.
"This is a labor of love more than anything," Young said before heading to Chicago for Wednesday's game between the White Sox and Rays.
"When you get done with a game here, you're more likely to get hugs. Barry Bonds has never hugged me."
It was difficult to tell who had the most fun at the tournament. There were athletes like Jean, a member of the Kreider Center squad, tearing around the bases during a skills competition with a smile on her face every step of the way.
At every base waiting for her was a member of the Oregon High School volleyball team, offering encouragement, a smile and a pat on the back.
"Go, go. You're so fast," senior-to-be Niatha Cullen said to Jean as she rounded third base. "Nice job."
"Another home run for Jean," said Oregon volleyball coach Ranae Leamanczyk, the official baserunning timer.
Gayle Noble, coach of the Ogle County Special Olympic team and a teacher for the Ogle County Educational Cooperative, put the word out that she needed volunteers for the tournament. She contacted Leamanczyk, as well as Oregon boys basketball coach Quinn Virgil, a special education teacher in Oregon.
The help poured in.
"I think we had more volunteers out here than we had participants in the event," Noble said. "They enthusiastically came out here and cheered everybody on."
Fourteen softball teams participated, as well as 15 additional athletes in an individual skills competition that consisted of running bases, throwing, catching and batting. Oregon volleyball and basketball players were with them every step of the way.
"I think it's really important for the girls to be involved with this because they see what true teamwork is and what the true joy of participation is," Leamanczyk said. "It's not always all about winning. Our team mantra is it's not always about looking at the scoreboard in the end. It's about the journey to get there. These participants here, it's all about the journey."
"They all have that big grin on their face," Cullen said. "They say, 'You know, I can do this.' You root 'em on as much as you can and say, 'Yeah, you can do this.'"
Virgil, whose wife, Kelly, also is a special education teacher, is no stranger to days like this. He helped at the Village of Progress, a health care facility for developmentally disabled in Oregon, when he was 16. His father has worked there for 35 years.
"If you watch the athletes compete, they're competing hard and yet they're having fun," Virgil said. "It lets you keep athletics in perspective."
Six teams and five individuals advanced to the Special Olympic state tournament, Sept. 12-13 in Decatur. On this day, though, there really were no winners and losers.
"It's really easy to tear up watching them," Leamanczyk said. "They're not tears of sadness or tears of pity, but tears of joy that they still want to succeed. They're excited about being here."
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