Camp lets disabled kids swing for fences at Fenway Park

Bryan Roy's experience in Reporting | Be the First to Comment

Saturday, July 19, 2008
By BRYAN ROY

[The back story: One of the most emotional stories I've had to cover, watching these disabled kids live their dream on the ballpark I also grew up dreaming about. It appeared on A1 of the Sunday Republican]

BOSTON – Chris E. Kindness dug his heels into the Fenway Park batter’s box he holds sacred, and awaited a pitch from Boston Red Sox hitting coach Dave Magadan.

The 12-year-old approached the plate having already earned the nickname, “Power House,” for hitting a ball so hard that the stitches unthreaded earlier this season.

Now he stood on the same soil as his powerful hero, David Ortiz, with hopes of clearing the Green Monster. His father, Christopher J. Kindness, could only stand in the shadows and absorb the atmosphere with a sense of awe.

“Unbelievable,” Christopher Kindness said. “I can’t believe coming through the tunnels, and I can feel the chills. Coming out and just feeling the stadium underneath your feet – it’s something you know you’ll never be able to do again the rest of your life.

“Words can’t describe it for us,” the dad added.

Chris Kindness may never be featured in Sports Illustrated for his baseball career, but for one special summer afternoon, the Chicopee boy lived a front-cover dream by taking part in the CVS Caremark All Kids Can Baseball Camp. The afternoon camp on July 12 gave Chris and 14 other Western Massachusetts kids with disabilities, along with their families, a chance to swing for a home run in on-field batting practice, too. None of the balls cleared the fence, but just being there brought together a Major League Baseball dream.

The Sunshine Challenger Eagles, of Chicopee, a team composed of children with physical and developmental disabilities, was one of seven teams selected from across New England to participate. The CVS Caremark All Kids Baseball Camps focus on helping children with disabilities to learn, play and succeed in life.

“One of our kids just came up to me, and he said, ‘Thank you so much for the best surprise of my life,’” said Eagles coach Kathy A. Dupuis, of Chicopee. “(Billy M. Bredenbeck) is one that doesn’t normally like surprises. They’re still in a state of shock, but they’re just still very excited.”

Said Bredenbeck, who is 22, of his favorite player, Manny Ramirez: “He is a very good hitter and I watch him on TV every night. I scream a lot just for him because that’s who I remind myself of every time.

“It was a wonderful time and great day for it to happen,” he added.

The day began at 11 a.m. with batting practice inside the Red Sox clubhouse. Magadan gave everyone an opportunity to hit in the batting cage off a tee, which prepped the Eagles for the on-field batting practice later.

The Eagles, composed of kids from Chicopee, Springfield, Ludlow and Granby, ate lunch in the Sox dugout, then went on an exclusive VIP tour of Fenway. They also received early admission into the park for the Red Sox 12-1 win over the Baltimore Orioles.

“It feels really good because there’s people that have been Red Sox fans for like 80 years and can’t do this,” Chris Kindness said. “So this is a really good opportunity.”

Said 9-year-old Cameron J. Dupuis, of Chicopee, on what he’ll remember most: “Oh, God, well, all my friendships I made with people so far, and having fun most importantly.”

Eagles coach Jackie B. McCullough, also of Chicopee, submitted their application to the CVS Caremark program last fall, then received word in April that they were selected – an emotional message that prompted much anticipation. This marked the fifth year of the baseball camps, which attract teams from all over New England throughout the summer.

“When I was being read the invitation letter, I was literally getting chills and tears were coming down my cheek because I just knew how much this would mean to them,” McCullough said.

While the excitement was evident through the players eyes, Magadan said the parents and coaches were just as – if not more – excited to live the experience with their children.

“It’s not only a nice break for the kids, but it’s a nice break for the parents and coaches that give a lot of their time in order for them to experience baseball and all that,” Magadan said. “They get as much of a kick out of it as the kids do.”

[Originally published in The Springfield Republican on Masslive.com]