Special Olympics Marshall & Starke counties just completed another season of softball, and what an adventure it was! They had two teams this year, along with a skills team. The Wildcats softball team finished with 12 athletes coached by Leroy VanDusen & Noel Soria. The Firecats softball team also finished with 12 athletes coached by Sharry Russell and Albert Rose. Four athletes also participated in the Skills Competition and were coached by Sonja Soria and Brice Zeigler. Athletes who participated in Skills compete at an individual level. Events for skills athletes include fielding the ball, running the bases (timed), batting, and softball throwing. Practices were held twice weekly, and they played five games before sectionals against local counties.
Softball Sectionals were held in St Joseph County on August 24. The Wildcats and Firecats went in with their heads held high, lots of encouragement, chanted in the dugout, and cheered each other on as loud as they could. The Wildcats had a rough start but were able to turn it around. At the end of the game, they headed into overtime with a tie of 10 to 10. Unfortunately, at the end of overtime, the score favored the Porter County Legends. The Marshall Starke, Special Olympics Firecats, competed against the St Joe County Knights on another field. This is the Firecats' first year as a team. Unfortunately, they fell short of a win but succeeded in advancing to the State competition!
The Skills athletes all received ribbons in their divisions. All four competed to the best of their ability and brought home three first-place ribbons and one third-place ribbon!
All the athletes worked hard! Both teams communicated and worked well with each other, leaned on each other for encouragement and advice, and executed every single play! It was really a sight to see; the teamwork was incredible!
The Firecats advanced to the State competition. A total of 29 teams across that state advanced to the Special Olympics Indiana State Softball Tournament. The tournament was held at the Center Grove Lassie League Softball Complex in Greenwood on September 7th. The Firecats had some fierce competition against the St Joseph Co Hurricanes and this game was for the Bronze medal. To watch this team come together and play and encourage one another like they did was an out-of-this-world experience. The spirits were high, and the momentum was even higher as the innings went by. One by one, the hits and runs were coming in, and the Firecats dominated and took home the Bronze medal at the State Tournament!!!!
Watching the athletes learn and progress in this sport has just been amazing. Once their season got started, things started clicking for the athletes. They quickly made giant leaps and bounds, came together as a team, and conquered! Special thanks to the incredible coaches and Plymouth Park Department who helped make the season possible!
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