For the young and young at heart, Pirates host Miracle League Fantasy Camp 

SARASOTA, Fla. -- When the wiffle ball cleared not only the net set up in front of 8-year-old Jace Marshall, but even the chain-link fence that lines the perimeter of the Miracle League of Manasota Field, Pirates infield prospect Termarr Johnson let out a primal roar.

“That’s what I’m talking about!” Johnson exclaimed.

Having just hit the “home run” that had several Pirates players celebrating like it was a pennant-clinching walk-off, little Jace was enthralled by what his upper-cut hack could accomplish.

“That ball was like, ‘I believe I can fly!’” the young boy said.

Jace was one of 40 athletes from the local Miracle League to take part in the Fantasy Camp that Pirates Charities held Wednesday in partnership with Baseball Fantasy Camp for Kids, a nonprofit organization. All the athletes got personalized Pirates jerseys and the experience of a lifetime playing and interacting with members of the team.

Since its inception in Georgia in 1998 to the present day, the Miracle League has allowed children and adults who suffer from physical or mental disabilities that leave them excluded from conventional baseball and softball leagues to participate in the fun and bonding the sport provides. And after assisting with the initial build of the Miracle League of Manasota’s Field in 2012, the Pirates have annually held this camp near the start of Spring Training as a way to give back to their home away from home.

This year, about 25 players from the Pirates’ spring roster -- as well as manager Don Kelly, members of his coaching staff, members of the front office and even the Pirate Parrot and a couple of the pierogi mascots -- took part in the clinic. The players loaded up the tees, fetched batted balls, played catch and ran around the bases with the Miracle League athletes.

“When you see the kids out here having fun, that’s what it’s all about,” Kelly said. “The energy, the joy. They’re just out here playing ball. To see the smiles on their faces and the smiles on our players’ faces when they’re doing it, it’s really cool.”

A few of the kids playing catch with infielder Jared Triolo caught the 2024 Gold Glove winner off-guard.

“A couple people were throwing heat that I was a little nervous to catch!” Triolo said with a laugh. “Some really good arms. Good groundball fielders, too.”

Konnor Griffin, MLB Pipeline’s No. 1 overall prospect, has spent the week of full-squad workouts wowing onlookers with his tape-measure BP blasts. But at this event, he was happily serving them up.

“We’re all out here just having a good time,” Griffin said. “Just making these kids happy is what it’s all about.”

Betty Rogers serves on the board of the Miracle League of Manasota. Her 35-year-old son, Tim, has special needs and has played in the league for many years. She said she was so inspired by her son’s experience in the league that she started up a Miracle League Club for students at nearby Cardinal Mooney Catholic High School, where she was a longtime educator.

“I would not retire until I had a teacher who swore -- on a Bible -- that they would take it over and be here on Saturdays.”

The league is that important to people like Betty and Tim Rogers family because of the love and acceptance it provides.

“He loves people, he loves socializing, he loves baseball,” Betty said of her son. “And he loves to hit a home run over the outfield fence.”

The event was a reminder that the barrier for entry to baseball is not all that steep. To run the bases, to hit a plastic ball off a tee, to have a simple game of catch are all ways to stir the senses and ways to build friendships. The Miracle League helps ensure these experiences are available to all.

“They get a chance to enjoy what we take for granted,” Pirates president Travis Williams said.

The Pirates hold similar camps during the season at Miracle League locations in the Pittsburgh area. Members of the Manasota league, which has 160 athletes ranging in age anywhere from 5-year-old kids to adults in their 80s, look forward to this event each year.

“The Pirates are like family to us,” executive director Chris Cushman said. “It’s just such a warm, fuzzy event.”

Well, not all warm and fuzzy. Once little Jace Marshall got that first taste of hitting a fly ball over the fence, that’s all he wanted to do. He started to take some huge upper-cut hacks and began to put on a Konnor Griffin-like power display.

“He’s taking some anger out on that baseball!” Johnson joked. “That’s what I like to see. I wouldn’t change a thing with his mechanics!”