“There is something about playing the game of baseball that lights up a youngster’s eyes,” says the History section of the Moody Miracle League’s Web site. But, the essay explains, baseball diamonds traditionally have not been designed to accommodate players with Down Syndrome, or who use wheelchairs or crutches to round the bases. That’s why Miracle League Baseball is so special, so important, and so popular — because it is designed especially for kids with disabilities.

Moody’s Miracle League field, built in 2002, was the first in Alabama. Last weekend, the field hosted 18 teams in the fourth annual Alabama Miracle League World Series. Teams traveled from Dothan, Pelham, Montgomery, Cullman, Tuscaloosa, Gardendale and Huntsville to participate. Moody fielded six teams in the series.

Pat Shipp, assistant director of the Moody Miracle League, said the support of the community has been overwhelming. “People just driving by and seeing the large crowd would turn around and come back just to see what was going on,” she said.

“If you come out and watch what happens with this field, you get addicted to it,” Shipp said. “To them, all they want to do is play, whether the ball goes six inches or over the fence, to them, they have hit a home run. Everyone who participates is a winner.”