First Colony Little League and West University Place Little League went to work fielding a combined team to represent District 16 after they received an invitation to bring a Challenger team to the Texas East State All Star Tournament.
First Colony Little League Takes Part In Texas East State All Star Tournament
WULL started its Challenger Division in 2005 and FCLL followed in 2007. Katy American and Missouri City Little Leagues also have Challenger Divisions in District 16.
Combined, these leagues serve 250 special needs players and 400 buddies. Each player with a disability is partnered with a “buddy” who helps them bat and round the bases.
There are 48 Texas Little Leagues (134 teams) who host Challenger Divisions and 867 Little Leagues across the United States (1876 teams) and 950 Little Leagues worldwide who have Challenger divisions (2050 teams).
On July 24, All Stars from across Texas took to Field 6 at the Faulkner Park Sports Complex in Tyler, Texas, alongside four special Challenger teams from Districts 10, 15, 16 and 28, a host of umpires, district administrators and other special guests for the traditional opening ceremonies.
At 4 p.m., on Field 7, District 16 Challengers took on the team from District 28. Those representing District 16 were Kenneth Adkins and buddy Chet Danto, Sean Barone and buddy Jason Sattler, Hannah Bauch and buddy Angela Sattler, Sofi Bauch and Catherine Taylor, Natalie Gay and buddy Tyler Gauntt, Blakeley Kress and buddy Kevin Roy, Jim Li and Drew Diaz, Maggie Mae Merrill and Hannah Pearson, L’Air du Robertson and buddy Lexi Hicks, Ezra Roy and buddy Harrison James, Devin Singley and buddy Davis Atkins, Emily Stromatt and buddy Matthew McCauley, Heather Jo Thomas and buddy Zach Pearson, and Kamden Thompson and buddy Luke Cone.
The team was coached by Michael Miller and Scott Sattler.
On Saturday night, the 10-year-old FCLL American, 11-year-old WULL American, Post Oak Little League, and WULL Seniors all played winning games.
