A Miracle
October 1, 2007

By DAWN AULET Staff Writer

For the Mauer family of New Lenox, it was a joy to see their son Dominic, 5, on the baseball diamond and even more of a joy to see him playing with his brothers, Nick, 13; Alex, 11 and Michael, 8. Nick, Alex and Michael already play competitively through their own leagues, but this was the first time Dominic was able to participate at all.

"It's incredible, how else would Dominic or any of these kids have a chance to swing a bat or run any of these bases," dad Karl said.

Dominic Maurer of New Lenox (center) reaches home plate with the help of volunteer Elaine Skoff (from left), 13, and his brothers Nick, 13, and Alex, 11, Sunday at the opening of Miracle League ballpark.

Dominic was born with a neurological condition that causes developmental delays. He is nonverbal and needs some assistance to play.

But, Dominic is able to play on the newly opened Miracle League of Joliet because that is its purpose -- every child deserves a chance to play baseball.

The field has been under construction for about a year and marked its grand opening Sunday afternoon -- when kids like Dominic and Luke Lambert, 7, of Plainfield -- could pick up a bat and run the bases, whether they were using their legs or some other form of assistance.

Luke is autistic and dad Tim Lambert said this league allows him the opportunity to play, because he could not in a more traditional setting.

"He doesn't really have the ability to understand the rules of an organized sport," Tim said. "He really likes it, he has a big smile on his face when he's running the bases."

Miracle League of Joliet is possible because someone suggested the idea to Jackhammers part-owners Pete and Sharon Ferro. That was about two years ago. Last year, along with a nine-person board of directors, they began construction on the diamond, which is smaller and made of a different material than a traditional field.

Nick Ferro, Pete and Sharon's son, said the field is 120 feet down the line, so it's a little bit smaller and the distance between bases is about 30 feet.

"This is a rubberized surface, so there's no obstacles," Sharon, executive director of the league, said, which opens the field up for users in wheelchairs.

On Sunday, the University of St. Francis baseball team served as the opposing team, giving kids the opportunity to try out batting or running the bases. In addition, Holy Family eighth-graders helped out being buddies for the players. When the season officially begins next spring a buddy will be assigned to a player so they can work together for the whole year.

The intention is for noncompetitive games, one per week for six weeks. That works well for Angela Lezza, of Channahon, whose son Louie, 9 was able to play Sunday.

"If you come on a Saturday morning, you play and that's plenty for him," she said.

Louie is autistic and Angela said when he was younger, he could play on a mainstream team, but he does not get the audio signals in traditional baseball, so now that he is older, this league is perfect for him.

The field cost $750,000 to build and is adjacent to Silver Cross Field, making it unique. Of the $750,000, $250,000 has been raised.

"We said we don't want to wait (for fund raising), there's too many kids waiting to play," Peter Ferro, assistant league director, said.

To find out more about sponsorship, volunteer, or to sign your child up to play next year, visit the Web site, www.miracleleagueofjoliet.com or call (815) 258-3799. There is a $35 fee for one session per child, but it can be waived in a hardship situation.

Dawn Aulet is a Herald News features reporter who can be reached at DAULET@SCN1.COM or (815) 729-6085