Peer Assistance and Leadership added a new event to their agenda this year. Last Saturday they volunteered with a Miracle League baseball game in Wichita Falls.
“It was a fun morning to not only watch but be involved in,” PALs teacher Krissa England said. “I liked seeing my students interact with the players and have fun with it, but it also provided a learning experience as well.”
The PALs assisted players with mental and/or physical disabilities with batting, fielding and running bases.
“I feel like this is a really nice experience for them to have as a part of PALs,” England said. “Not only do they work with kids at our school who might need help with development, but this allowed them an opportunity to learn values of the PAL program elsewhere.”
Junior Jessie Berend and sophomore Madison Chatwell participated in this league. England said Berend was beyond excited to have the PALs help out and be involved. He recruited the PALs to be involved with the league in the first place.
“I was happy to have everyone there to watch,” Berend said. “My partners were [juniors] Kaydyn [Ritchie] and Brynlee [Skelton].”
Berend said senior Jill Liles pitched a ball to him while he was batting.
“I asked her to pitch it to me high,” Berend said. “I hope the PALs can help again next year.”
From the PALs’ perspective, it wasn’t just another baseball game.
Each PAL member was matched up with one of the players whom they were to assist during the game.
“I was partnered with a kid named Matthew who was really smart,” junior Chance Warren said. “It was really just a fun bond to have even for one day.”