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This month Little League Canada had the pleasure of speaking to Randy Crouse who is the Nova Scotia Challenger Baseball Coordinator and the National Coordinator of Challenger Baseball Canada. Randy sought out Challenger Baseball after being inspired by his time at Acadia University. He was part of the S.M.I.L.E program which is a program that provides persons with varying disabilities a unique physical activity experience.

 Randy was a key player in the development of Challenger League in Nova Scotia and has been instrumental in the growth of the program. He reached out to Ian McLean, who was the challenger baseball national coordinator at the time. He worked with Ian McLean, Little League Canada, Baseball Canada, and Little League International to kick start 3 leagues in Nova Scotia. All of five years ago there were just the three Nova Scotian leagues and approximately 40 kids registered. Fast forward to the present day, there are now nine programs in Nova Scotia with 300+ participants and 500+ buddies. Across the nation, Challenger Baseball has grown to 93+ programs, with 3000+ participants. Randy’s commented on the amazing growth of the program by saying, “Never would I have imagined 5 years ago we would be where we are now. It’s been pretty amazing”.

When asked about the ‘key players’ that make challenger league possible, Randy sad it’s not about ‘key players’ because every person within the league plays a crucial role. From the amazing provincial coordinators to each and every volunteer and parent. But most important of all, the unstoppable kids from the leagues across Canada. Randy said he knows he may never get the chance to meet everyone involved in Challenger League – but the combined effort of everyone is what makes Challenger League the possible.

It’s not only the people who are directly involved with Challenger Baseball who make it all possible, it’s also their communities who rally around them. For example, just the other week a League in Peterborough Ontario had someone break into their equipment boxes and damage their equipment, and what they did not damage they stole. However, what truly amazed Randy - while the actions sadden us all -  was the way the community of Peterborough rallied around the Peterborough Challenger League. People and businesses donated equipment and resources to ensure the league had everything they needed to get back on their feet, such as bats, helmets, and balls. These are some of the characteristics that embody the Challenger League. Randy said it best, “We are all working together towards a common goal – to better Challenger Baseball across Canada”

            One of the yearly highlights of Challenger Baseball is the National Jamboree. Challenger League players from across Canada travel to the Rogers Centre, home of the Toronto Blue Jays, where the players then get some baseball instruction from the Jays Care staff and get the chance to play a game on the same field as some of the MLB’s best players! This is a fantastic event which allows the Jays Care Foundation to interact and connect with some of the ‘unstoppable’ kids they are so positively affecting. “Between Little League Canada, Baseball Canada, Jays Care and their whole team, there’s probably too many names to list off. All these moving pieces working together, that’s pretty special” – Randy

Finally, we spoke about some of Randy’s fondest memories of Challenger Baseball. He was quick to say that it is not just one memory, it is but a combination of memories that are so special to him. But If there had to be one memory - it would be remembering the past, and how much Challenger Baseball has grown since Randy started. “I remember where Challenger League was in 2012 and 2013. Now you’ve seen that growth, you've seen all these stories and pictures - the kids smiling. You see where we were, where we are now, and where we are going to be in five…ten…fifteen years - it’s pretty exciting”

“Challenger League is a place that you go to encourage each other, you go there to cheer each other on and have a good time”. It is a league that is truly connecting communities across Canada. It is “by far the most fun I’ve ever had on a ball field” - Randy

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Thanks again Randy for speaking with Little League Baseball. Your story is one of many that makes baseball a sport we love and a sport that will always be in our hearts.