Philip Reese, youth player in the Miracle League of Alexandria represented the City of Alexandria at 2022 National Miracle League All-Star games in Murfreesboro, Tennessee September 16 – 18. Philip was one of 120 participants from across the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and Mexico.
The honored participants represented 250 chapters of the Miracle League who were nominated to play by their leagues. The Miracle League is a national program founded in 2000 in Atlanta, Georgia and has grown to over 300 teams from the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. The Alexandria program began in the spring of 2011 with the rubberized surface, Kelley Cares Miracle Field completed in November 2012. The Miracle League program is specifically for youth and adults with special needs to enjoy outdoor recreational opportunities and plays baseball in the spring and fall each year.
During the weekend of activities, Philip and his twin sister, Emma along with Miracle League of Alexandria coordinator, Mac Slover, (retired from the Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities) and Chairman of the MLA and his girlfriend, Diane attended the games.
On Friday, the players and their families were welcomed to the hotel at check-in time as the players received their special all-star uniform, gamebags and special tickets for the weekend. Later that afternoon, they attended the special Miracle League mixer and Taste of Murfreesboro kick-off event that included recognition of the players and teams, food, music and much more. On Saturday, they held 10 all-star games and a concluded the day with a celebration awards dinner and program. Each of the participants was provided prizes, an all- star medal, and a special signed baseball by hometown, major league baseball player, David Price of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The all-star game provided Philip and the other participants the opportunity to play the baseball games in a special atmosphere as their name was announced each time they came up to bat. Their picture and information were placed on the video scoreboard. There was play by play announcing and music.at the games. All the families and spectators cheered on each player loudly when they hit the ball, ran the bases and scored.
Mac Slover stated “After missing the last two years due to Covid, we were glad to be able to bring one of our players back to the all-star games. This weekend could have been any better, but Murfreesboro did an excellent job with its Miracle Field, the video scoreboard and its special sensory components in the complex like the water park and playground. For me, the most important of the weekend was seeing how excited Philip was being there and participating and making friends with other participants from other leagues.” More importantly, it was nice to be able to see Philip playing this wonderful game of baseball and experiencing this weekend. “I am just lucky I had the chance to be a part of it too and network with so many wonderful people there. It was about families supporting each other” Slover stated.
Philip’s team, the Orioles played a morning game in front of a packed field of spectators and received rounds of cheers throughout the game and many congratulations following it.
The 2023 National Miracle League All-Star Games will be in Palm Beach, Florida. Slover stated “we have already begun to plan for next year’s trip. The Alexandria Children’s Dentistry will once again provide a sponsorship donation to assist in paying for the entire family and MLA representative’s trip to the all-star games.
For information or to make a donation to the league, go to www.miracleleagueallstargame.com
