BATTING 14th, NUMBER 3, TYLER HODGE.

[ APPLAUSE ] WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING TO DO IN BASEBALL?

>> BAT.

♪ ♪ >> EVERY CHILD AND YOUNG ADULT DREAMS ABOUT MAKING A TRIP DOWN TO WILLIAMSPORT.

THE MECCA OF LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL, THE MECCA BEING THE LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES.

>> I'M GOING TO PLAY AT THE BIG STADIUM.

>> THIS, IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING THINGS I'VE EVER BEEN A PART OF.

>> GO CHALLENGERS!

>> 1, 2, 3... >> WE'LL SEE YOU GUYS IN WILLIAMSPORT.

ACTION.

>> HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN PLAYING CHALLENGER BASEBALL?

>> 12 YEARS.

>> DANIEL HAS BEEN PLAYING FOR CHALLENGER SINCE HE WAS FIVE YEARS OLD, SO ABOUT 15, JUST OVER 15 YEARS.

>> I WOULD SAY MAYBE ABOUT 10, 10 YEARS I THINK.

>> RACHEL GOT STARTED IN CHALLENGER BASEBALL WHEN SHE WAS MAYBE SIX YEARS OLD.

>> HI.

>> AND NOW YOU ARE HOW OLD?

>> I JUST TURNED 23.

>> THAT'S A LOT OF YEARS.

23.

WE HAD HEARD ABOUT THE LEAGUE.

SHE WAS ALWAYS ACTIVE AS A CHILD AND WE KNEW SHE WOULD ENJOY IT AND BE WITH PEERS WHO WOULD ENCOURAGE HER AND SHE WOULD GET TO PLAY AND HAVE FUN AND JUST HAVE SOME CAMARADERIE.

>> JORDAN IS VERY FRIENDLY.

HE LOVES BEING AROUND PEOPLE.

HE WAS BORN PREMATURE, 1 POUND 14 OUNCES AND HE WAS A PREEMIE.

AND HE WAS IN THE CROUSE HOSPITAL NICU.

TO SEE HIM NOW AND TO-- HE IS HEARING IMPAIRED AND AUTISTIC.

HE HAS COME A LONG WAY.

>> I'M FROM ENGLAND.

DANIEL WAS BORN IN ENGLAND.

AND HE MOVED WHEN HE WAS A YEAR OLD.

>> MOTHER, MOTHER.

>> LONDON.

AND WE WERE IN THE MILITARY.

AND WE ENDED UP IN NEW YORK.

15 SEASONS IN, WE WOULDN'T CHANGE A THING.

HE LOVES BASEBALL SEASON.

LOVES WHEN IT'S TIME.

WHEN HE PUTS HIS UNIFORM SHIRTS ON AND HE KNOWS IT'S TIME TO GO, HE JUST IS GUNG HO.

HE LOVES IT.

>> COME ON, BUDDY!

[ CHEERING ] >> ATTA BOY!

>> HE HAS BEEN PLAYING 14 YEARS NOW.

HE IS 24.

EVERYBODY IN CHALLENGER GETS A HIT.

EVERYBODY GETS A HIT.

BUT IT WAS JUST THE SMILE ACROSS HIS FACE AND ALL THE REST OF THE KIDS THAT IS WHAT HOOKED ME.

>> I STARTED AT SYRACUSE CHALLENGER BASEBALL WHETHER MY SON WAS FIVE IN THE YEAR 2000.

I ALWAYS LOVED BASEBALL.

I GREW UP IN QUEENS AND I LOVE THE METS SO EVEN THOUGH TAYLOR HAD AUTISM, I THOUGHT THIS IS GOING TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR HIM TO PLAY BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS SUPPORTED.

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A PHOTOGRAPHY NUT.

I LOVE TO TAKE PICTURES.

I WOULD TAKE PICTURES OF TAYLOR AND IT FELT WEIRD TO NOT TAKE PICTURES OF THE REST THE OF THE PICTURES OF THE REST OF THE CROWD.

I DID THAT.

EVENTUALLY WE HAD DIGITAL CAMERAS AND SHARED THINGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

I BECAME THE LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER VERY EARLY ON.

>> MY FAVORITE POSITION IS FIRST BASE.

LOTS OF ACTION ON FIRST BASE.

MY FAVORITE PART IS CATCHING BALLS WITH MY GLOVE AND STRIKING PLAYERS OUT.

>> 1982.

AN AMAZING MAN BY THE NAME OF SKIP SOULE DECIDED HE WANTED TO HAVE HIS SON BRIAN, WHO HAD DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, PLAY LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL JUST LIKE EVERY ONE OF HIS FRIENDS AND HIS PEERS AT SCHOOL.

HE TOOK BRIAN, A COUPLE OF OTHER PARENTS AND SOME OTHER KIDS, BOTH ABLE BODIED AND SPECIAL NEEDS, JUST TO THROW THE BASEBALL AROUND AND SWING THE BAT.

NO HITS, RUNS OR OUTS, JUST A LOT OF FUN.

AND WHAT HE DID THAT DAY BLOSSOMED INTO SYRACUSE CHALLENGER BASEBALL PROGRAM.

HE CONTINUED THAT PROGRAM HERE IN SYRACUSE FOR SEVEN YEARS.

SEPARATELY IN 1989, LITTLE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL RECOGNIZING THAT THESE LITTLE CHALLENGER LEAGUES WERE SPROUTING UP ACROSS THE COUNTRY, MADE CHALLENGER AN OFFICIAL DIVISION OF LITTLE LEAGUE.

SO SYRACUSE CHALLENGER BASEBALL PREDATED THE RECOGNITION OF THE OFFICIAL CHALLENGER DIVISION BY LITTLE LEAGUE BY SEVEN YEARS.

WE ARE THE OLDEST CHALLENGER DIVISION IN THE COUNTRY.

>> READY!

ON MY THREE!

1, 2, 3 CHALLENGER!

>> HI FIVE.

>> AROUND THE YEAR 2000, MY WIFE SPOKE TO ANOTHER PARENT IN A LOCAL SPECIAL NEEDS BOWLING LEAGUE WHO TOLD HER ABOUT THE EXISTENCE OF THE CHALLENGER BASEBALL PROGRAM AND THAT THERE WERE KIDS AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS PLAYING BASEBALL WE REALIZED THIS WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MY SON TO PLAY BASEBALL.

WE APPROACHED THE DIRECTOR OF CHALLENGER BASEBALL AND LEARNED THAT THERE WASN'T A ROSTER SPOT FOR DOMINICO.

BUT THE FOLLOWING YEAR, THE COACH STEPPED UP AND SAID WE'LL TABLING AN EXTRA PLAYER ON THE TEAM AND HIS LOVE FOR BASEBALL WAS BORN AND MY WIFE VALERIE AND I'S PARTICIPATION THIS THIS AMAZING LEAGUE STARTED.

PART OF THE TIME HE WAS OUT THERE PLAYING WITH HIS TEAMMATES, THE OTHER PART OF THE TIME I WAS CHASING HIM ALL AROUND THE FIELD.

WE HAD A LOT OF FUN.

WE REALIZED HE TRULY LOVED BEING THERE WITH HIS OTHER FRIENDS AND HIS PEERS.

IN 2003, THE PARENTS WHO HAD VOLUNTEERED TO RUN THE PROGRAM DECIDED TO RETIRE FROM THAT SPOT.

WE HAD 16 TEAM COACHES, 60 PLAYERS, ALL WILLING TO GO BUT NO ONE TO VOLUNTEER TO RUN THE LEAGUE.

AFTER A COUPLE OF CONSERVATIONS WITH MY WIFE VALLY THAT WERE MORE ONE WAY THAN THEY WERE CONVERSATIONS, I VOLUNTEERED FOR THE JOB.

>> TOM NEEDED SOME THINGS TO BE DONE AND MY JOKE IS THAT I MISSED A MEETING AND SUDDENLY I WAS THE DEPUTY PROGRAM DIRECTOR AND THEN I JUST ROSE THROUGH THE RANKS.

>> COME ON, DAVE, COME ON, BABY!

>> PLAY AT THIS WONDERFUL CARRIER PARK FIELD OF DREAMS THAT GOT BUILT A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO WITH THE HELP OF DOM CAMBARERI AND ALL THE SUPPORTERS OF SYRACUSE.

>> IN 2006, SYRACUSE CHALLENGER BASEBALL HAD GROWN TO SUCH A POINT THAT WE NEEDED TO FIND SOME MULTI-ATHLETIC BASEBALL FIELDS OF OUR OWN IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE OUR ENTIRE LEAGUE IN THE EXPLOSIVE GROWTH.

IN 2010 I HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION WITH AN OLD FRIEND OF MINE, TOWN SUPERVISOR OF DEWITT AND HE SAID TO ME WE SHOULD PARTNER TOGETHER AND BUILD THIS FIELD OF DREAMS THE RIGHT HERE IN DEWITT.

THE CARRIER CORPORATION APPROACHED ED AND TOGETHER THEY ARRANGED FOR CARRIER TO DONATE A 26-ACRE FORMER WILLIS CARRIER RECREATION CENTER PARK AND THAT IS THE LAND THAT WE ARE STANDING ON NOW.

>> IT JUST TURNED INTO A WONDERFUL THING.

A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, A TEAM FROM PETERBORO CANADA MADE IT TO THE LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES.

AND TO GET FROM PETERBORO TO WILLIAMSPORT.

THEY THOUGHT A GREAT WAY TO BE TO STOP IN SYRACUSE AND SAY HI ANOTHER CARRIER LEAGUE.

SO THEY BROUGHT A BUS AND HAD A BANQUET WITH ONE OF THE LOCAL RESTAURANTS AND IT WAS SO EXCITING TO SEE THIS TEAM THAT WAS SO MUCH SMALLER THAN US AND GET TO THE WORLD SERIES.

IT STOKED A FIRE IN US.

EVERY YEAR THE LEAGUE GETS BIGGER AND THE TASKS GET MORE.

WE KNEW WE WANTED TO DO IT BUT IT WAS IF THE BACK OF OUR MINDS.

WELL OVER THANKSGIVING LAST YEAR, DOM SECRETLY FILLED OUT THE APPLICATION TO GO TO THE WORLD SERIES AND WHEN WE WERE CHOSEN, WE WERE LIKE, THIS IS GOING TO BE A LOT OF WORK.

IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF WORK.

>> BEFORE THIS, NO TEAM FROM CENTRAL NEW YORK HAS EVER HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY IN A LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES FINALS WEEKEND.

SYRACUSE CHALLENGER BASEBALL IS THAT FIRST TEAM.

>> IT FEELS LIKE WE ARE GOING TO WILLIAMSPORT, BABY!

THAT'S ALL I'M THINKING ABOUT.

>> THIS IS ALL THAT MATTERS.

THIS IS THE MECCA OF LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL IN THE ENTIRE WORLD AND WE ARE GOING TO MEET OUR CHALLENGER COLLEAGUES DOWN THERE.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE BEST TIME.

WE ARE COMING TO SEE YOU.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT GOING?

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING IN WILLIAMSPORT?

>> MY FAVORITE THING IN WILLIAMSPORT IS SO MUCH FUN, SO MUCH FUN, I HAVE SO MUCH FUN WITH MY BEST FRIENDS.

PLAYING ON A BASEBALL TEAM AND HAVING A GREAT TIME.

>> MOM, WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY?

>> JUST TO SEE OUR TEAM DOWN IN WILLIAMSPORT, HOW FAR THEY'VE COME AND WHAT THEY CAN DO IS, IT WARMS YOUR HEART.

IT'S AWESOME.

WE ARE SO EXCITED.

ABOUT WE BRING A HITTER TO HIT, YOU GUYS HAVE DONE ENOUGH EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU, WHERE YOU SHOULD KNOW WHERE TO GO WITH THE BALL.

IF YOU HESITATE, THAT'S OKAY.

WE ARE GOOD.

IF YOU BAUBLE THE BALL, MAKE SURE YOU MAKE A GOOD THROW MUCH THAT'S ALL WE ASK.

BASEBALL IS MY SPORT.

IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN.

AND TO SHARE MY KNOWLEDGE WITH THE GAME ALONG WITH THESE INDIVIDUALS HAS BEEN VERY UPLIFTING FOR ME AND THEY'RE AWESOME.

>> EVERYBODY READY, WE GOT ONE MORE TO GO AND THEN IT'S TIME FOR THE BIG SHOW.

>> WE ARE SENDING 26 PLAYERS AND 40 FAMILIES DOWN TO WILLIAMSPORT AND WE ARE GOING TO BE PLAYING OUR LANCASTER CHALLENGER COUNTERPARTS DOWN THERE IN AN AMAZING CHALLENGER EXHIBITION GAME.

AND OUR PLAYERS AND OUR PARENTS AND OUR COACHES AND OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE MORE EXCITED THAN THEY EVER HAVE BEEN.

LIKE A DREAM COME TRUE FOR US.

♪ AND THE LAND OF THE FREE.

♪ AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE ♪ [ APPLAUSE ] [ CHEERING ] LET'S PLAY SOME BALL EVERYBODY!

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ HELLO!

>> WOULDN'T BE A BASEBALL DOCUMENTARY WITHOUT A FOUL BALL >> WHAT IS IT LIKE BEING HERE, WATCHING AND PLAYING?

>> EXCITING.

EXCITING.

>> AWESOME.

IT'S AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE.

IT'S SO UNREAL.

EVERYBODY IS HAVING FUN.

THE BEST THING IN THE WORLD!

(MUSIC PLAYING TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [ CHEERING ] >> THERE HE GOES.

DOMINIC WILL STROLL DOWN TO FIRST BASE AND GET... EVERY HITTER HAS HAD EXPERIENCE.

THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT'S A NICE ONE BACK TO THE MOUND.

AND WE ARE GOING TO SCORE OUR FIRST RUN HERE, TOO.

KNOCKED IN A RUN.

>> COMING INTO SCORE, RACHEL SARTORI HAS COME IN AND NOW DOMINICO HAS COME IN TO SCORE AS WELL.

THE JOYS OF THE CROWD.

REGULAR LITTLE LEAGUE TEAM AND HE GETS THE FIRST PITCH.

GOOD JOB.

>> AND WE ARE GOING TO DO THE TRADITIONAL CHALLENGER HIGH FIVE ALL THE PLAYERS ARE GOING TO BE AT HOME PLATE.

TELL EVERYBODY WHAT AN AMAZING GAME IT WAS AND SHOW EVERYBODY WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP, GOOD FUN AND CAMARADERIE AMONGST EVERY SINGLE LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYER AND ESPECIALLY THE CHALLENGER PLAYERS!

>> HOME RUN HITTER JOSH HARRIS!

[ APPLAUSE ] SHE SANG THE NATIONAL ANTHEM.

KELLY MYSELF-- MEIGS.

AND SMALLEST PLAYER, DANIEL IRELAND.

BRITTANY DEL TORO.

[ APPLAUSE ] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ WELCOMING UP TO THE STAGE, Mr. JUDE LANGSTAFF.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> I WILL TELL YOU I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT BEFORE IN MY LIFE.

THEY MADE THESE KIDS FEEL LIKE KINGS AND QUEENS FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS.

BUSING THEM INTO THE STADIUM, GOING THROUGH THE TUNNEL, TAKING THE HISTORIC RIDE LIKE ANY OTHER LITTLE LEAGUER HAS DONE IN THE WORLD SERIES.

HE HAS ENJOYED IT.

YOU TELL ME.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THE TRIP.

>> HITTING THE BALL.

>> SPENDING THE NIGHT AT THE WHAT?

>> HOTEL.

>> AND DID YOU LIKE THE FOOD?

>> YEAH.

>> WHAT DID YOU EAT?

>> PIZZA.

>> THAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE, WASN'T IT?

>> JUDE KNOWS WHAT HE LIKES, ASKED ABOUT HIS FAVORITE FOOD HE PUT PIZZA, NO QUESTION.

>> THERE'S ONE RIGHT OUT IN FRONT.

CATCHER CAN'T GET TO IT.

NEITHER CAN THE PITCHER AND ANOTHER RUN WILL SCORE.

[ APPLAUSE ] AS D.J.

COMES IN TO SCORE.

>> AS A MOM, TO SEE HIM UP THERE AND MAKE A DOUBLE EVERY TIME HE GOT UP, IT WAS LIKE HERE IS HIS CHANCE TO SHINE AND SHOW EVERYBODY WHAT HE IS CAPABLE OF.

>> MY DREAM IS TO GO TRAVELING BEYOND PLACES BEYOND NEW YORK.

MY DREAM IS TO WIN A TROPHY AND A MEDAL AT MANY SPORTING EVENTS.

>> RACHEL SARTORI.

>> SHE HAS DONE WONDERFULLY.

AND HER HIT IN WILLIAMSPORT, IT WAS WONDERFUL.

SHE JUST SMACKED IT TO THE SHORTSTOP ON THE FLY.

>> SHORTSTOP AND RACHEL RUNS DOWN TO FIRST BASE TO BE THE FIRST RUNNER OF THE BALL GAME.

>> EVERYONE IS SAFE IN A CHALLENGER GAME.

>> WE COULDN'T HAVE BEEN MORE PROUD.

IT WAS JUST THE BEST HIT.

AND WE WERE SHOW PROUD OF HER AND ALL THE KIDS AND IT WAS WONDERFUL.

IT WAS SO GOOD.

>> I HAVE SPENT THE LAST 21 MOST AMAZING YEARS SERVING THESE KIDS , SERVING THEIR PARENTS AND SERVING THEIR FAMILIES IN HELPING CREATE THE LARGEST AND MOST AMAZING CHALLENGER BASEBALL PROGRAM IN THE COUNTRY.

♪ THE LAND OF THE FREE... [ CHEERING ] >> WE COULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY WITHOUT MY COLLEAGUE DEE PERKINS.

DEE HAS BROUGHT TO THE TABLE AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF SKILLS, PASSION, ORGANIZATION AND ENTHUSIASM THAT REALLY HAS HELPED ME AND THE REST OF THE PARENTS MAKE THIS LEAGUE INTO ONE THAT IS PREMIER IN THE NATION.

IN ADDITION, MY OTHER COLLEAGUE, JENNIFER, LIKE DEE, BROUGHT IN AMAZING SKILLS, AMAZING PASSION, THE ABILITY TO MOTIVATE PEOPLE, HELP US FUNDRAISE, ORGANIZE AND DO THE EVENTS AND THE SCHEDULING NECESSARY TO BRING THIS MESSAGE TO OTHER SPECIAL NEEDS PARENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WITH THE THREE OF US WORKING TOGETHER, THAT MESSAGE REALLY RESONATED AND THE SIZE OF OUR LEAGUE SIMPLY EXPLODED.

>> WHEN I SAY THAT IT MADE A CHANGE IN MY LIFE, THAT'S WHAT FUELS ME WANTING TO GIVE UP SUCH A HUGE PART OF MY LIFE TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS LEAGUE CONTINUES AND GROWS.

♪ GOD BLESS AMERICA.

>> THEY'RE ATHLETES, JUST LIKE ANY OTHER ATHLETE THAT YOU SEE.

WE PROVIDE THEM THAT OPPORTUNITY , GIVE THEM THAT DIGNITY AND GIVE THEM THAT CONFIDENCE TO BE STANDING OUT ON THE FIELD SIDE BY SIDE WITH THEIR PEERS, WAITING FOR THE NEXT BALL TO BE HIT THEIR WAY OR STANDING AT THE PLATE WAITING TO KNOCK ONE INTO THE INFIELD AND RUN THE FIRST BASE LIKE THE WIND.

♪ OUR HOME SWEET HOME ♪ [ APPLAUSE ] >> WE ARE SYRACUSE CHALLENGER BASEBALL, WE ARE THE AMBASSADORS OF GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP, JOY, FUN AND INCLUSION SPORTS.

LET'S SHOW THE NATION WHAT SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, IS ALL ABOUT.

SUPPORTIVE FAMILIES, SUPPORTIVE FRIENDS, SUPPORT OF ATHLETES WITH ALL ABILITIES.

>> RYAN McMAHON, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, AND I BEN WALSH MAYOR OF CITY OF SYRACUSE PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 10, 2023 TO BE SYRACUSE CHALLENGER BASEBALL CHAMPIONS DAY IN ONONDAGA COUNTY.

[ CHEERING ] >> NICE JOB.

THERE IS A NICE CHOPPER.

BACK TO SHORTSTOP.

WE ARE GOING TO CLEAR THE BASES THIS TIME.

TOUCH THEM ALL, AS THEY SAY.

>> HIGH FIVES AS HE GOES AROUND THE BASE PADS.

THAT'S WONDERFUL.

>> AND ALL THE TEAM FROM SYRACUSE WILL COME OUT AND ENJOY ... SYRACUSE CHALLENGER BASEBALL FROM SYRACUSE, NEW YORK I THINK ONE OF THESE IS GOING TO END UP IN THE SYRACUSE HALL OF FAME.

I THINK IT SHOULD.

I.

>> I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA.

ONE OF THESE, BECAUSE THIS IS LITERALLY GIVEN TO US BY THE PEOPLE OF LITTLE LEAGUE WOARLSZ.

THESE ARE THEIR OFFICIAL HELMETS AND THIS IS THE AUTOGRAPH OF THE ENTIRE TEAM ON THE FIELD AND THE COACHES.

ONE OF THESE SHOULD BE IN THE SYRACUSE HALL OF FAME.

GOT TO BE.

>> YOU LIKE IT A BUNCH?

>> I LIKE LUNCH.

IT WAS BRUTALLY HOT IN WILLIAMSPORT.

BUT I PERSUADED ON AND NEVER GAVE UP.

SUCH A GREAT ENVIRONMENT.

SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT.

AND GOING TO TULLEY'S AFTERWARDS.

>> WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THIS EXPERIENCE.

>> AMAZING.

YOU HAVEN'T STOPPED SMILING SINCE WE LEFT.

>> IT SAYS YOU PLAYED THE GAME BIRTHPLACE OF LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL.

>> DADDY WAS ON THAT FIELD IN 1971.

WE ARE IN WILLIAMS SPORT SYRACUSE CHALLENGER BASEBALL COMING RIGHT AT YOU.