Kemree Pugh hit her second solid bunt off a Stacy Meisgeier lob and headed to first base. Rather than throw to first for an out, Meisgeier waited as Kemree, 15, of Waverly, reached base and high-fived her student helper.
Kemree was among dozens of people who took part in and attended a scrimmage at the Waverly Miracle League field after the grand opening of the All-Inclusive Playground on Saturday, April 26, in Cedar River Park.
Meisgeier didn’t throw to first for the out because she coordinates Waverly Miracle League, intended for kids of all ages with varying abilities.
Nate Townsley, a first-grader in Waverly, hit the ball off the tee and ran to first with a helper.
A coach helped a Cedar Falls child in a wheelchair to swing at a pitch.
“Kids at heart” from age 4 up to their 20s participate in the Miracle League, according to Parkersburg Miracle League coordinator Matt Waller.
Meisgeier, known to many as the Waverly-Shell Rock Middle School principal, and Waller, a 1992 Waverly-Shell Rock graduate, coordinate Cedar Valley Miracle League games in Waverly’s Cedar River Park and Parkersburg’s All-Play Ball Park, respectively. “Saturdays in June and Saturdays in September we play baseball with the CVML,” Waller said.
“It’s just awesome to see that Waverly has added the facilities that they have here to give kids with any type of disability the chance to come out and play and do the things that anybody else gets a chance to do,” Waller said.
Waller explained, “This is the sixth year that we’ve been playing the CVML. We started with 19 players. We now have 60 kids from throughout the Cedar Valley that get to play baseball on nine Saturdays throughout the year, kids with varying levels of abilities that can’t play the quote-unquote 'normal baseball.'
Many kids are transported up to 40 miles from varying parts of the Cedar Valley, Waller said. “We have kids from Charles City, Jesup, Frederika, Waverly, Hudson, Cedar Falls, Parkersburg, Grundy Center. Communities throughout the Cedar Valley.”
Kemree
Kemree, now 15, said she started adaptive softball three years ago.
“(It) feels really good to play here,” Kemree said. “The first time I did it it was really scary, but when I got to play, I was happy and excited. I’m getting better every week.”
Kemree began playing three years ago at the Parkersburg All-Play Ball Park, according to her mom, Amber Pugh of Waverly.
“We started in Parkersburg where Matt Waller started the program,” Amber Pugh said.
“When they started the partnership with Waverly, we played two games here and two games in Parkersburg.
“I’m hopeful when this program grows, they can expand the teams in order to play more home games,” Amber Pugh said.
Olivia
Olivia Steemer, 21, of Waverly, also hit some bunts on Saturday. She started with the Waverly Miracle League last year and it’s all she talks about, Odissa Steemer said.
“She played last year. We had come to a game the summer before, just to watch, and I said, ‘you should join,’” Odissa Steemer said.
The Waverly Miracle League has not only allowed Olivia to meet new friends with different abilities, but her family has met other families of kids with challenges.
“She loves it. She’s involved in other things, and all she talks about is baseball. ‘When’s baseball?’” Odissa Steemer said.
“Picture,” Olivia said.
Odissa explained, “We have our picture on the refrigerator with the baseball bat and our friends, from last year.”
“I know a lot of sports here in town are willing to include,” Steemer continued. “But with this, it’s all levels. If you need a team, you have a team, if you’re in a wheelchair, they pitch to you in the wheelchair, everything is completely adaptive to each individual person so they can have the best time.”
Olivia said that playing baseball makes her feel “good.”
Olivia’s sister Sophia reflected on watching her sister play baseball.
“I’ve seen a lot of excitement in her face. Getting to see her friends is probably the highlight of her day, and enjoying a sport she likes,” Sophia said.
Odissa appreciates the opportunity the league provides to meet other families.
“It’s nice, it makes it a lot easier,” Odissa said.
“I always encourage anyone I talk to, to come to one of these games. The feeling is indescribable, it’s – ach – it’s indescribable. She’s done – she does special Olympics, and she’s done Sparkles Cheer in the past up at Wartburg.”
Odissa moved the family back to Waverly seven and a half years ago, after having moved away her freshman year of high school.
“When I first moved (back) here, we didn’t even know there was Special Olympics here, we didn’t know there was cheer. (...) I tell everybody with kids that would participate in this, ‘it is such a blast.’”
Sophia added, “I even invite my friends to come see it because it’s so cool.”
“I can’t describe how good it feels to come watch a game. There’s no words. Definitely worth the time,” Odissa said.
Wolff
Waverly City Council member Jenn Wolff watched the adaptive scrimmage from her wheelchair.
“It’s fun to see how supportive everyone is of each other and the coaches are doing such a good job (supporting them),” Wolff said. “Because each kiddo’s got a different set of needs, and they’re making it accessible to everyone.”
Wolff joined the council at the very tail end of paying for the playground.
Seeing them play, Wolff said, “it’s refreshing.”
“I think everything about kids is refreshing, but just having a place where they can come and play with each other. It’s refreshing to have something like that in Waverly,” Wolff said.
Wolff played softball as a kid, before she was confined to a wheelchair.
“My dad was a coach for Wartburg and he made me do it,” she said. “It was a good experience.”
Waller’s inspiration
Wolff went to high school with Brad Waller and his younger brother, Matt Waller.
“Brad is his brother who became paraplegic after a car accident. I think he’s Matt’s inspiration,” Wolff said.
Waller confirmed the information. Brad and Matt each graduated from Waverly-Shell Rock – Brad in the Class of 1990; Matt in the Class of 1992.
“Brad was 14 when he was injured living here in Waverly. That was 100% the inspiration to build the Miracle League fields – the one in Parkersburg is named Bradley Waller Field,” Matt Waller said.
“Once Waverly community leaders saw the value of the Miracle League field in a community like Parkersburg, I think that served as an inspiration for (...) leaders here to use that as a model,” Waller said. “When you build a youth sports complex, to have the forethought to include a Miracle League field when you plan it.”
How to join
“If you have a kid or a loved one you think could play in the Miracle League, go to and register,” Waller said. “It’s a fun time on Saturdays. It ranges from (ages) 4-5 to kids in their 20s. Everybody’s a kid at heart, right? And everyone wants to play America’s pastime, baseball.”