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Miracles do happen in High Point. But most miracles require a lot of elbow grease and planning. As a result of elbow grease, planning and donations of time and money, High Point’s Miracle Field opened for play on Sept. 26.

Ed Price was instrumental in developing the idea of the field. He had seen four Miracle League fields mostly in the Atlanta area.

Price said, “Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a field like this for our youth in High Point?”

The Miracle League of High Point would provide children with intellectual and physical disabilities an opportunity to play in a league on a special playing surface that is cushioned and completely flat.

Price talked to Strib Boynton, High Point city manager, and Allen Oliver, director of parks and recreation, about a location for the Miracle field. Land was available at the athletic complex on School Park Road near A.J. Simeon Stadium. This was a great location and meant that the players would feel a part of things. Other sporting events would be going on at the same time in the complex.

Oliver and Scott Tilley volunteered to be co-chairmen of the project.
Kevin Archer works with the Marriott Hotel in High Point. He heard Price speak at a meeting and wanted to be involved in the Miracle League. He is now the director of coaches and is responsible for lining up one head coach for each team.

“I have two boys of my own who play sports,” Archer said. “I know how much fun it is to watch them play. This seemed like an excellent opportunity to volunteer my time to pay back to the community.“

Each player has a buddy who helps at home plate, and Angels in the Backfield help in that area.

Invitations were extended to area schools to participate in Opening Day. Baseball players and coaches from High Point University, Central High School, GTCC and High Point Christian Academy volunteered to help. The academy’s mascot, Kip, and Dash, the Winston-Salem Dash baseball team’s mascot, were also on hand.

The cheerleaders from the academy did a cheer for each player with the player’s name in the cheer. The players loved the cheers.
Two more games are left this season, so if you are looking for a fun way to spend a Saturday morning take your family out to the ballgame.

There is even a concession stand, and the crowd usually sings “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” Smiles are everywhere, and the total enjoyment of the players, parents and the crowd is contagious. This is baseball like you remember it being played — just for the love of the game.

There are four teams: the Phillies, the Red Sox, the Pirates and the Martins.

I talked to Jennifer Johnson, one of the volunteers. Her own son, Justin, died two years ago. “He would have loved this,” she said, as she showed me his picture. She brought two more volunteers with her.

The four coaches are Joe Baripapa, who coaches the Marlins; Scott Ford, who coaches the Red Sox; John Farlow who coaches the Pirates; and Geoff Beaston, who coaches the Phillies.

Experienced sportscaster Greg Kerr calls the games and creates a lot of excitement with his comments and the nicknames he has given the boys and girls on the teams.

Tekisha Johnson talked to me about her son, Jaylen Goodwin, 7.

“Jaylen loves sports and loves to run so I knew he would love this,” she said.

It has taken lots of volunteers to get the games going. Sherry Paul, recreation supervisor with parks and recreation, has coordinated the volunteer program. If you are interested in volunteering, call Paul at 883-8524.

The next two games are at 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Oct. 24. The last games are at 9:30 and 11 a.m. Oct. 31.

Sarah Love, one of the academy cheerleaders, said, “We came to lift up the kids, recognize their talents and cheer them on.”

High Pointers, come on out to the game. Buy some peanuts and Cracker Jacks, cheer and watch the megawatt smiles on the player’s faces.

If you have news of High Point, contact mjohnson2@triad.rr.com.