Miracle League Magic 

Thanks to the Miracle League of Edmond, America’s pastime is truly for everyone. For more than two decades, the YMCA-led program has created opportunities for children and adults with disabilities to experience the joy of stepping up to the plate, rounding the bases and being part of a team. 

The Miracle League serves individuals ages 4 to 73 with a variety of disabilities. Players are divided into youth and adult teams, with approximately 10 to 12 players per team. 

As Healthy Living Director at the Rankin YMCA, Ellen Mack leads the program. “When I first came to Edmond, I was told I would oversee the program,” Ellen said. “I wasn’t familiar with it then, but I knew I’d figure it out.” 

She quickly discovered Miracle League was unlike any other sports program she had managed before. “The first night I went out there, it felt like the most normal, homiest thing. I fell in love with it after that.” 

When she later transitioned from her role as sports coordinator to the healthy living department, she was adamant about one thing: she was taking the program with her. Under Mack’s leadership, participation has doubled, growing from around 50 players to nearly 100. 

The league hosts baseball seasons each spring and fall. Before each game, volunteer buddies help players practice hitting, pitching and catching skills. 

Games last two innings, everyone gets a turn at bat and there are no outs. “It’s about giving them a sense of normality,” Mack said. “They get to be part of an American tradition they might not otherwise get to participate in.” 

The Miracle League field itself was designed with accessibility in mind. Its rubberized surface, made of interlocking hexagons, allows participants using wheelchairs, canes or other mobility devices to navigate the field safely. Even the bases are painted directly onto the surface to help eliminate tripping hazards. 

As the program grows, the Y is raising $300,000 through a capital campaign to improve the field’s playing surface and fencing, ensuring it remains a safe and accessible place for athletes and families for years to come. 

The Edmond program traces its roots back to local advocate Margo Price, who recognized her son’s love of sports and limited opportunities to participate. She partnered with the national Miracle League organization in the early 2000s to bring the program to Edmond. 

The league relies on volunteers and community partners, including the Rotary Club of Edmond, local schools and Edmond Public Schools athletic teams, which regularly serve as buddies. 

“You get to make new friends as volunteers,” Mack said. “It’s great team-building. Some parents also want to give their children the opportunity to connect with people with differences so they learn how to relate to others with love and kindness.” 

The impact stretches far beyond the field. “It shows anyone can get along no matter what the differences,” she said. Every player receives a medal at the end of the season, but the real reward is a rich sense of belonging. 

Registration is currently open for the fall season. The cost is $10 for YMCA members and $45 for nonmembers. Families can also purchase team jerseys and hats. For more information or to register for the upcoming season, contact Ellen Mack at EMack@ymcaokc.org