Hickory Creek softball takes on Tinley Park Bobcat Challengers

FRANKFORT, IL — The Hickory Creek Middle School Tigers varsity softball team enjoyed the shared fun and camaraderie of their sport during a friendly face-off with the Tinley Park Bobcat Challengers on Thursday, September 12 at Bettenhausen Park in Tinley Park.

The Challengers is a team composed of young adults with developmental disabilities who enjoy the sportsmanship, teamwork and accomplishment of baseball.

The game was tailored to the skill level of the players, and there were no strikes and no outs involved.

This was the first time Hickory Creek had the opportunity to play the Challengers. Hickory Creek Special Education Teacher Robin Murphy is a coach for the Challengers, and she and Challengers Coach Rich Granata helped get Hickory Creek involved.

Each time the bat connected with a ball, regardless of which team was at the plate, the crowd went wild, cheering on and sharing in the joyousness of the game.

“The experience was one I will never forget,” said Mitch Stein, softball coach at Hickory Creek. “It was a perfect night. Coach Erin Nemeth and I were just in awe of how well our girls interacted with these amazing athletes. I was just taking everything in and had a smile on my face the whole time. It was the best game we played all year.”

Stein and Nemeth hope the team gained a greater appreciation for the fun, competition, kindness and respect involved with their sport through their participation in the game. They also said they hope the girls learned that softball and baseball are more than just games, and the score does not define the athlete.

“I told them that those wonderful athletes and team are no different than us,” Stein said. “The best part is that our girls are some of the best young ladies I have ever coached. They truly get it. We promote teamwork and sportsmanship, and above all, we have fun.”

Murphy said the Challengers mean the world to her, and she was happy to see the Tigers play the team.

“My heart was overjoyed after the game at the amount of love and support,” she said.

For more information about the Challengers, visit www.tinleyparkbobcats.org.