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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Little League Baseball and Softball is the world's
3largest organized youth sports program, with nearly 2.6 million
4players and one million adult volunteers in every state in the
5nation and many other countries; the Little League Challenger
6Division is Little League's adaptive baseball programs for boys
7and girls with physical and developmental challenges; and
 
8    WHEREAS, The Little League Baseball World Series
9Challenger Exhibition Game has been a part of the Little League
10Baseball World Series schedule since 2001; boys and girls ages
114-18, or up to age 22 if still enrolled in a school program,
12with a physical or developmental challenge participate in the
13Challenger Division program; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Flexibility and adaptability are key during
15Challenger games; the innings are shortened and last about an
16hour, while all players play defensively and receive a chance
17to bat every inning; the players have "buddies" that are
18individuals who assist Challenger athletes in the areas of
19batting, base running, and defense as needed; often, buddies
20are peer athletes who are participating in the Little League
21Baseball or Softball program; and
 
22    WHEREAS, There are currently over 900 Challenger programs

 

 

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1in 10 countries around the world; over 30,000 athletes
2participate in the Challenger Division; 40 to 50 programs apply
3to play during the Little League Baseball World Series every
4year; the Little League's staff review stories from each
5aspirant and select two teams that are exemplary; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Illinois District 13 from the Chicago area and
7California District 57 from the San Francisco area were
8selected to represent more than 30,000 Challenger players and
9more than 900 leagues worldwide; the Illinois District 13
10Challenger Division, founded in 1994, has 165 players and 14
11teams from the combination of the Bartlett, Tri-Cities, and
12Woodstock Little Leagues in the Greater Chicago area; and
 
13    WHEREAS, On August 24, 2013 at Volunteer Stadium in South
14Williamsport, Pennsylvania, the Little League Challenger
15Division played its 13th consecutive exhibition game; Illinois
16District 13 experienced the trip of a lifetime; the teams
17exchanged gift bags between players and their "buddies" and
18each player received a baseball autographed by ESPN baseball
19analysts; most importantly, the teams also received publicity,
20which results in a positive outcome; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Every batter recorded a hit, reached base safely,
22and scored a run; the two teams successfully finished the game -
23 a game in which no player is concerned about the score;

 

 

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1therefore, be it
 
2    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
3NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
4we congratulate the Woodstock Challenger Little League team for
5participating in the Little League Baseball World Series
6Challenger Exhibition Game; and be it further
 
7    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
8presented to the Woodstock Challenger Little League team.