Buddy Baseball Special Needs Baseball League

Buddy Baseball is a non-competitive recreational league in Oakland County for boys and girls with special needs. Each Buddy Baseball League player will be paired with a “buddy” to assist the player as needed. Buddy Baseball Special Needs Baseball League is hosted by the Independence Township Parks and Recreation Department.

The Buddy Baseball Special Needs Sports League season is 6 weeks long and starts on June 2nd, 2012. Games are one hour long with a 30 minute practice before each game. Each team will have 14 players and 14 buddies as a minimum (maximum is 18). The Buddy Baseball League features an Opening Day Parade, Meet Your Buddy Day and an End of the Season Picnic.

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“We are hoping to have enough players and buddies to make up 4 teams”, said Recreation Supervisor, Kelly Hyer. Residents of Independence can register for a discount. Buddies
are charged a nominal fee. Both players and buddies will receive uniforms.

This is the third year for the Buddy Baseball Special Needs Sports program. The idea came from a resident who relocated to Clarkston. When Laura Fry-Claussen lived in the Chicago area, her two daughters participated in a program where they volunteered as a “buddy” to a special needs child. Fry contacted Independence Township Parks and Recreation and inquired if they had a “buddy baseball program”. At the time, the Department did not have such a special needs sports league.

Here are more details:

• Ages: 7-13 year old boys and girls with special needs. Buddy ages are 7-17
• Cost: $40/residents, $50/non residents and $10 for buddies
• The Buddy Baseball League plays a 6 week season. No games the week of July 4th
• Opening Day Parade, 10 am on Saturday, June 2nd at Clintonwood Park
• Games will be Mondays at 6:30pm, starting June 4th at Clintonwood Park
• Coach & Buddy meeting will be on Monday, May 21st at 6pm
• PLAYERS-Registration is now ongoing and ends April 27th, 2012. Starting May 3, a $10 late registration fee will be added, pending space is still available

Buddy Baseball League is currently seeking players, buddies, volunteers and sponsors.

Questions? Call (248) 625-8223
Independence Township Parks & Recreation
PO Box 69, 6483 Waldon Center Drive, Clarkston, Michigan 48347
www.itpr.org

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Independence Township Parks and Rec also hosts a Buddy Basketball season for special needs children. Click here for details.