Special Olympics comes up to bat in Aggieland

Bottom of the third. Bases loaded. 14-8. Best Friends.

Like most softball games, fans sit silent in anticipation of the last play. But what makes this game unique – every player is disabled.

"By having our people that are intellectually disabled out [playing sports], we're trying to get the world to accept them," said Shirley Johnson, Best Friends of San Antonio head coach, "to see that they can do things."

The Special Olympics Texas Fall Classic came to Bryan-College Station this weekend, including bocce, golf, triathlon and softball games. Aquatic competitions were in Pearland.

Best Friends beat the Fire Dowgs, also of San Antonio, 15-8, Saturday at Veterans Park.

"We came out here and made a big victory, we're going home with the gold medal. That's why we came all the way from San Antonio," said DJ Nicholson, Best Friends center fielder. "So I'm glad we came out here, we got the gold, and we're bringing home the gold."

The most exciting part of the games, Nicholson said, was the outfield catch he made.

"I'm proud of me about that. I'm proud of my whole team," he said.  "They played real good. They helped me out. I helped them out. Our team played as a team."

Although Best Friends took home the gold medal, every team at the Fall Classic is a winner, said Marisa Maldonado ,Aggie Special Olympics Texas Volunteer and junior nutrition major.

"Everyone gets a medal. Everyone gets placed first, second or third. Everyone gets a gold, silver or bronze medal," she said.  "Everyone's a winner and that's what keeps it fun."

Each season Special Olympics Texas has a competition, the Winter Games will be in Austin Feb. 3 through 6. Athletes compete in a bevy of sports, from bowling and table tennis, to skiing and ice skating, Johnson said.

"We start off – January's basketball, then it goes to track and field in the spring, then it goes to softball, and then it goes into bowling," she said. "We go non-stop year around."

The will and determination of athletes shows that disabled people have something to contribute, said Johnson, who's been involved with Special Olympics for 42 years.

"These athletes can do more than anyone ever dreamed they could do," she said. "People think that a person that's intellectually disabled can't do much. You'd be surprised what they can do. Some of them are good enough to beat normal teams."

But Special Olympics doesn't just teach athletic ability, Johnson said.

"If we give them the chance and the training they can do it," she said. "They can have jobs. They can work. They can be productive citizens."

There is no age limit for athletes, so everyone is included. Special Olympics can be a lifelong ambition for athletes, Johnson said.

"Everyone from age eight to 100-plus. I had a boy one year who was 87 participate in softball. He did track, and he did bowling," she said. "There's something there for everybody."

The Fall Classic kicked off with a lighting of the torch, naming of the athletes, coaches and volunteers of the year and a victory dance Friday night at Rudder High School in Bryan.

"We had about 300 volunteers and 400 to 500 athletes," Maldonado said. "We had volunteers from ASOTV, APL, several FLOs, OPA and all the organizations we called to help. Every year we get about 200 to 300 student volunteers, and we also get adult volunteers from the community. It's so exciting to see so many A&M students there."