Saturday: Miracle League Opening Day

CORPUS CHRISTI - Because Everyone Deserves a Chance to Play Baseball and the generosity of businesses, philanthropists and individuals throughout the Coastal Bend, the Miracle League of Corpus Christi celebrates Opening Day this Saturday.

From 10 to noon at CITGO Miracle League Field, 1354 Airport Road (across from Gabe Lozano Golf Course), Hooks mascots Rusty Hook and Sammy Seagull join Miracle League of Corpus Christi board members, other volunteers and special guests in the culmination of a four-year effort to bring baseball and softball to children and adults with developmental disabilities.

Food and beverage, a ribbon-cutting ceremony and Miracle League exhibition game at 11 highlight the festivities.

In partnership with The Rotary Club of Corpus Christi-Evening, the Hooks committed to the construction of a Miracle League Field in early 2007. Miracle League playing surfaces are flat, rubberized and cushioned, affording special needs children the opportunity to play regardless of ability. Wheelchair-bound or visually impaired players also benefit from accessible dugouts.

Annual South Texas Winter Baseball Banquets and Astros Caravan Luncheons from 2007-09 benefited the Miracle League project under the Hooks Field of Dreams umbrella. Through Field of Dreams, the Hooks renovate or build a youth field in the region, typically on an annual basis. In September of 2009, a "Miracle Dinner Under the Lights" at Whataburger Field featuring future Hall-of-Famer Craig Biggio pushed fundraising past the threshold for construction.

H-E-B was a key early contributor and Whataburger, CITGO, No Bats Baseball, the Blanche Moore Foundation and AEP Texas/gridSMART are other major donors. Also playing significant roles in the project:

All Tech Inspection
Andrews Distributing
Astros in Action Foundation
Devary Durrill Foundation
Ed Hicks Nissan/Ed Hicks Mercedes
High Fivers Club
Laverne & Thomas Howell Foundation
Port of Corpus Christi
Rotary Club of Corpus Christi