Saturday morning in Dothan a special element was added to the baseball community.
Anne Rumble, Director of Dothan Leisure Services, said, "It’s a wonderful day in Alabama. Everybody here has given their heart and soul."
For children facing serious mental and physical challenges, it isn't always easy to take part in sports, but it is made possible thanks to the miracle league.
Nathan and David Marshall, Miracle League Father and Son, said, "Because of his disability it’s hard to find things that he can do, but this field was designed for him and it’s great."
The field is specially designed with a rubberized surface, painted on bases, and level dugouts.
Diane Alford, National Executive Director of Miracle League, said, "It gives every child an opportunity to hit the ball in center field or over the fence. It is the size of a seven-year-old t-ball field."
Miracle League also gives adults a chance to play ball. Twenty-three-year-old Brad Cobb has been living with Down syndrome. Despite his disability, he has been able to bowl and hunt, but for him this is something bigger.
Alice Cobb, the mother of the Miracle League player, said, "His big dream is to play baseball, so this is a big day for us."
Miracle League's spring season ends in mid May. The players will reunite in the fall and organizers say by that time there may be two or three new teams.
Miracle League has opened up more than 100 fields in the United States, making dreams come true for 85,000 players. This summer the organization plans to break ground in Puerto Rico and Canada.