Wilkes-Barre City Council hears presentation on Challenger Baseball

WILKES-BARRE — For over 30 years, Wyoming Valley Challenger Baseball has provided a safe and inclusive environment for those with physical and or intellectual challenges to participate in the sport.

At Wilkes-Barre City Council’s regular meeting Thursday, Gail Malloy, a community health social worker with the city health department, gave a presentation on the league and why it’s so important to the community.

Malloy is set to give the same presentation at the state Department of Health Equity Conference on May 1.

Rick Drust, treasurer and a member of the board of directors of the Wyoming Valley Challenger Little League, accompanied Malloy during her remarks.

The Little League Challenger Division was established in 1989. In 1991, the Wyoming Valley branch was founded.

According to Malloy, there are currently 950 Challenger Little League programs in 10 countries and 30,000 players worldwide.

The league is for ages 4 to 18 or 22, if the child is enrolled in school. And a senior league was established for players 15 and up, with no maximum age.

“No player is ever denied based on inability to pay, and no registration fees are ever charged,” said Malloy.

In addition to creating an adaptive and safe environment for everyone, Malloy said Challenger baseball also has a buddy system, where volunteers help players and teach them skills tailored to their individual needs.

“It is really heartwarming to see how the allegiances are formed between the programs. And as players improve in their skills, they develop confidence, and it permeates to other parts of their lives. Parents come and tell us that they develop so much confidence because of this program, that they start to develop independence in other activities of their life, such as, believe it or not, brushing their teeth, putting on their clothes, putting on their socks and shoes,” Malloy explained.

Rusk added to that and said, “It’s a little intimidating sometimes when you have a person with a disability who might be autistic or…it’s difficult. But we put them together, and once it’s all done and over in the 9th inning, guess what? They’re best buddies.”

Wyoming Valley Challenger Baseball’s home field, Evercore Field, is located at the Bog, off Dewey Lane in Miners Mills. The first game of the season will take place starting at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, May 10.

“You’ll cry or you’ll smile, but I promise you will leave feeling a different person. It’s worth it. Come see us,” Rusk urged council.

Agenda items

Council at Thursday’s meeting approved an agreement with Panzitta Enterprises for $49,500 to construct a garage next to the Hollenback Fire Station that would house the backup water rescue boat and various equipment used to maintain the station, such as lawn tractors, lawn mowers and snow blowers.

Wilkes-Barre Fire Chief Jay Delaney explained at Tuesday’s work session that the garage would be a prefabricated metal building measuring 30 feet by 30 feet. It would have two doors in the front and be painted the same color as the fire station to blend in seamlessly.

Delaney said having the extra space would free up a lot of room inside the fire station and remove any trip hazards.

The majority of the project would be funded through the Office of the State Fire Commissioner Grant Program, with the city’s fire department general fund budget making up the difference.

Additionally, council approved William Murtha as a member of the Parking Authority, with a term set to expire on Dec. 31, 2028.

Murtha replaced James Conahan, whose term expired.

Remembering a beloved community member

Councilmember Stan Mirin presented a resolution at Thursday’s meeting to the family of Charles Fick, a local football coach who passed away on April 2.

According to previous reporting, Fick won more games than any coach in GAR Memorial High School football history.

Mirin, who was coached by Fick, added that he was also a mathematics teacher. He served as head football coach from 1980 to 1997.

Mayor George Brown, who said he’s known the Fick family his whole life, represented the family with a proclamation, expressing, “sincere condolences to the family of Charles Fick, who will be remembered for his legacy of mentorship and service to others.”

“He was my idol going through school,” Brown said.