Challenger Baseball has become a national leader in accessible sport, offering a place where youth and young adults living with disabilities can learn the game and the life skills that come with it.
The program continues to grow each year, reaching more than 9,000 athletes across Canada in 2023. Six Challenger Baseball teams currently operate in Manitoba.
At 49, Marquette’s Les McRae is one of the program’s dedicated coaches, working with the West Winnipeg team and serving on Challenger’s board of directors.
On Nov. 8, McRae received both the Baseball Manitoba Grassroots Coach of the Year Award and the Baseball Canada Grassroots Coaching Award.
“There’s just something to it — watching the simple joys of a kid who’s probably never played a sport now play a sport and do well,” McRae said. “They come to you, they’ve probably never held a bat or a glove, and then you teach them a few things and their eyes just light up. As much as it’s all about the kids, I also think it’s about the parents, too, because sometimes they’ve never had the chance to see their child that excited about something new.”
McRae has been involved with Challenger Baseball for more than seven years. Early on, he had the chance to coach his son, Austin, who suffered a stroke at birth and struggled to fit in with community baseball before finding his place in Challenger.
Athletes typically play two to three innings per game, ranging from T-ball to Rally Cap levels.
McRae often arrives 30 to 45 minutes early to greet athletes and prepare the field. Local baseball players, known as “buddies,” also volunteer to help Challenger athletes bat, throw and learn basic skills.
“There are no outs, everybody bats, everybody makes it home, and it’s all about having fun while teaching the basics of baseball and adapting it to each kid,” McRae said. “At Challenger Baseball we have kids who use wheelchairs, and kids with autism, Down syndrome, muscular dystrophy — any child who wants to play ball, we make sure they can come out, have a great time and learn as much as they can.”
Challenger Baseball is operated through the Toronto Blue Jays’ Jays Care Foundation, which provides equipment, grants and coaching resources. McRae said Jays Care regularly hosts coaching clinics in Manitoba to help share ideas and strengthen local programming.
“I’m just happy that Challenger Baseball is getting out there for more people to learn about it because it’s a great organization with great coaches and volunteers,” he said. “The more kids that can come out, learn the game and just have a great time — that’s the best.”
McRae hopes to see Challenger expand into more Manitoba communities, including the Interlake and Steinbach. Brandon is currently exploring forming a team, which would bring the provincial total to seven.
He also coaches with Sledge Hockey Manitoba and often encourages Challenger athletes to take part so they can stay active year-round.
Registration for Challenger Baseball takes place through the program’s website. If space is available, athletes are placed on a team based on their home region. Participants range from kindergarten-aged children to young adults in their 20s.
