All the players have been outfitted with Red Sox shirts and hats, at no expense to them, by the all-volunteer, nonprofit Miracle League.
“I came once, and I haven’t stopped coming,’’ says Cherie Dunn, a 23-year-old volunteer from Acton. “It’s great to be able to be with these kids, seeing them have fun interacting with each other. They exchange phone numbers if they want to come to each other’s house to play.’’
“It’s become almost a community now,’’ says Shertenlieb.
A Boston sports radio personality, Shertenlieb uses a bullhorn to do play-by-play for every batter. He knows everyone’s name. Almost every batter will hear a booming “Awesome!’’ A child here for the first time, and hitting the ball, gets a “What a debut!’’ from Shertenlieb.
The unfiltered joy of the players and the parents covers the field.
“This is what it’s all about, baby!’’ Shertenlieb bellows into the horn.
And he’s right. They don’t keep records here. Nobody’s in first place or last. It’s all about making these children feel they’re the luckiest kids in the world, for a few hours on Saturday mornings.
Just look. They’re the happiest kids you’ll ever see.
“It’s a beautiful thing,’’ says Andy Richardt. And it is.
For more information about the program and its fund-raising campaign, go to its website, www.miracleleagueofma.com, or e-mail Lauren Richardt at miracleleagueofma@yahoo.com. Lenny Megliola can be reached at lennymegs@aol.com.