Feature WritingSpring 2009

with Professor Judith Sheppard

Miracles in the Outfield A Little Piece of a Lifetime

Facing the New Demand of Hunger

By Rebecca Lakin

In baseball, it’s normally three strikes and you’re out, but, before Monroe Benjamin Stillwell V or Colt, for short, even reached the plate, he wasn’t even given a chance at the three strikes. Colt has Cockanye syndrome, so at age 16, he stands at 42 inches and 40 pounds. He has always wanted to play baseball. Billy Hitchcock Miracle Baseball Field Complex in Opelika, Ala., is making his dream come true. “He’s always watched other kids play,” said Karen Stillwell, Colt’s mother. “He’s always gone to see his cousins play baseball. Now, he’s just doing something others can do.” In the Opelika, Ala., baseball complex, Field 8 stands out from the rest because it is The Billy Hitchcock Miracle Field Complex, a baseball field dedicated to the needs of disabled people of all ages in the East Alabama and West Georgia area and is the largest of its kind in the country. Sharon Henderson, mother of player Dallas Henderson, 9, and has neurofibromatosis, said, “Baseball is fun for any child, but this has opened up a whole new world for them.” Miracle Field was built with a soft rubber material to eliminate the players’ fear of falling and to allow those playing in wheelchairs to more easily maneuver around the bases. The complex also includes a completely handicapped accessible playground made of the same material. Elizabeth Kilpatrick, whose daughter, Taylor Kilpatrick, 8, and has Down syndrome, plays, and she said, “Taylor just really likes the material. She likes to poke it.” Rob Cox, chairman of the Miracle League Executive Committee and a director of the League, said, “The players can do whatever they want. They can watch butterflies or play with the field – as long as they’re having fun.” The complex officially opened in January 2009. On March 29, the first season at the field started. The league allows everyone to participate and be a winner. Cox said, “We only have two rules: 1. Have Fun and 2. Be safe.” The League is divided into four teams each with 10 to 12 players: Athletics, Angels, Braves and Dodgers. The League plays at 2 p.m. every Sunday, weather permitting. Each player on the teams gets to bat twice during the game. Each player gets to bat until he or she gets a good hit of the ball, which is either underhand pitched or hit from a t-ball stand. As the player approaches the plate to bat, the announcer cheers his or her name over the loud speaker. Although the Miracle League does not keep score, when a player reaches the home plate, the crowd cheers, and the announcer says the player’s name. The crowd of teams, family and friends of the players always cheer for each player regardless of team, because everyone wins during a Miracle League game. Stillwell said, “All teams, parents, grandparents, who ever comes cheers for everyone. There are no angry fans in the stands. You can’t help, but have a smile on your face. Everyone makes a point of cheering everyone’s name.” Henderson said, “I’ve been thoroughly impressed with the people in Opelika and Auburn area. The crowds are always full. Everyone is cheering.” When Colt, who is jersey number 2 on the Angels’ team, walked to the plate, everyone cheered for Colt, which brought a smile to his face. Stillwell said, “[Colt] likes to get out and play, because it means he’s one of the guys.” Colt, who spends most of his days in the confinement of his wheelchair, is able to get out, swing the bat at the pitches and run the bases with the help of a buddy, a volunteer who helps him run the bases, hit or catch the ball and ensure his safety while playing.

Miracles in the Outfield

The field has not only given disabled people a chance to play, but allows the community to show support and join in the fun too. Cox said that the local high schools and Auburn University have gotten really involved with the field. Lee Scott Academy, Auburn High School baseball team, Opelika High School baseball team and some of the Auburn University football players have volunteered at different games throughout season to play as buddies to the four League’s teams. Kilpatrick said, “I like that the parents can get involved. It’s the most welcoming community we’ve lived in for families with disabilities.” Cox also said the field truly represented a joint-community project. The Opelika Parks and Recreation donated the fields. Auburn Parks and Recreation donated all the equipment and uniforms, so that every player could play without a fee. “We’ve gotten donations from families and corporations for hundreds and thousands of dollars,” said Cox, “But the contributions that meant the most were for $12 from envelopes that said ‘lemonade stand’. Its says a lot that you have kids cutting grass to donate to the field.” Cox emphasized the importance the field has in these kids’ lives and how a simple game of baseball can make a huge difference. “You’ve got kids who dream of being the next Chipper Jones, but they’ll never have the chance to step on the Braves’ field,” said Cox. “So we’re giving ability a chance.”Kilpatrick said, “A lot of these kids are physically delayed or mentally delayed, so it’s great they can come out and play. They get to meet a wide variety of people and it’s easier to meet people, because in school, they don’t really meet others like them. It’s really good for their self esteem. It’s great.” Henderson said, “Dallas has absolutely loved playing, and just watching him play on the field has been amazing. It’s a great way to spend an hour on a Sunday afternoon.” Dallas, who plays for the Dodgers, is pushed from base to base by his buddy in his wheelchair, but he widely grins as he turns the corner of each base. Stillwell said, “One of my favorite times at the field was when one of [Colt’s] classmates [from Beulah High School], Brett, who doesn’t have verbal communication skills and is always in a wheelchair was playing. His first time up to bat, his brother lifted him from the wheelchair, and he stood to hit the ball from the t-ball stand. Then his brother helped him walk to first base. I was moved to tears.” When Angels’ jersey number 2, Colt, ran to the home plate, his face displayed a huge grin, and he high-fived everyone as he ran by. He jumped on home plate, and the announcer said, “Score by Colt Stillwell!” As Cox said, “Now, [Colt] is Mr. Baseball.”

A Little Piece of a Lifetime The “29” on the old football jersey has yellowed from stark white to antique cream on the faded red jersey sweater. Albert Killian, 80, grew up in Opelika, Ala. He now serves on the board of the Museum of East Alabama. As he sits at the counter of the three-room museum, he is surrounding by a collection of history that he has been instrumental in collecting. He remembers small details about each item in the museum — and wants to share his knowledge with all generation. For the past 12 years, Killian has worked with the Museum of East Alabama to preserve the history of Opelika and the surrounding area. “No one was doing anything about the history of Opelika,” Killian said, “So I did.” In the last decade, Killian has created more than 60 publications on the East Alabama area – from the history of Selma to the six seasons of Opelika’s minor league baseball team, the Opelika Owls. Killian’s first, his most extensive, publication was on Opelika’s World War II prisoner of war camp, which is a story close to his heart. “In 1942, they completed the camp December,” Killian said as he flipped through the pages of the fifth edition of his book. His book is a compilation of the history of the POW camp, and includes pictures of the completed camp with the American soldiers who guarded it. “Opelika wasn’t prepared to receive the soldiers,” said Killian, “so my family rented out our extra room. “I remember one family that lived us, I don’t remember their name, but, while they stayed with us, they had a child.” Killian remembers visiting the camp with his school friend, Billy Green, whose father worked at the camp. He also recalls Sunday orchestra concerts and theater productions the prisoners performed for the local Opelika citizens and soldiers. “The Opelika community donated old instruments to the camp,” said Killian. “They asked everyone to look in their closets for old trumpets.” “The prisoners were gifted,” he said about the quality of the work and performances the prisoners did. “They were teachers, preachers – they had every occupation imaginable.” In the museum’s POW display, four wooden carvings made by the prisoners are displayed as examples of their talents and creativity. Since working with the museum, Killian has had the chance to meet some of the former prisoners. “Karl-Heinz Bosche, a POW in the camp, visited the museum 10 or 12 years ago,” said Killian. “I asked if he had pictures of the camp and he did.” Killian walked right to the spot where the pictures hang on one of the museum’s walls. The pictures include two images of the POWs’ theatrical group and a picture of the track team. “It’s hard to get people to provide stuff,” said Killian. “No one thought to save anything from that time, and, if they did, it was incidental.” When the local public libraries decided to move all their old newspaper clips to microfilm and throw out the old bound copies of the newspapers, Killian jumped at the chance to save them. He selected the newspapers from 1940 through 1948, when the POW camp was operational, and when he was in high school.

“Whenever I saw an article about the POW camp, I’d make a copy of it,” said Killian. “That’s how I got started.” After World War II ended, Killian followed the history of the POW camp buildings. The buildings were given to American soldiers returning home as temporary housing. Killian’s two older brothers were given the mess house. They remodeled the inside and lived there for the year. Killian donated pictures of the house to the museum. These are not the only personal memories Killian has on display. Nearby visitors can see the history of Auburn and Opelika High Schools’ sports team, including pictures of the 1945 undefeated Opelika football team and the 1943 undefeated Auburn football team fill the display. Killian played on the 1945 undefeated Opelika team, and the jersey he wore with its yellowed number “29,” is displayed above the picture. He smiled proudly at the jersey.

Facing the New Demand of Hunger

The phone rings more and more often in Martha Faupel’s office with people calling for help to get one of the basic necessities of life — food. Martha Faupel is the executive director of the Food Bank of East Alabama, which distributes food to food pantries in the six counties around the Auburn area: Barbour, Bullock, Chambers, Lee, Macon and Tallapoosa counties. The Food Bank of East Alabama is a part of Feeding America, formerly America’s Second Harvest, the nation’s leading organization fighting against hunger. Faupel said the food bank has had a significant increase in the demand for assistance with the country’s current unraveling economy. “About half the people that we are seeing now asking for assistance are new to hunger,” said Faupel. The food bank’s local food pantry, The Community Market, served an average of 937 households a month in 2008. In February, the Market served more than 1000 households. “These people are the new face of hunger,” said Faupel. Although, the food bank’s three-roomed administrative office appears relatively clean and empty, except for the occasional disorganized pile of papers, marked-up calendars and a few pictures, the warehouse shelves are not bare — yet. “We’ve seen individual donations drop,” said Faupel. “And the way the food banks work, we get the products companies produce with mistakes. Recently we’ve seen a drop, because companies are watching the bottom-line and are more cautious with what they produce.” Faupel said there are just fewer people that can afford to donate right now, because everyone is worried about their situations, which worries the food bank. “Certain times of year, late spring and summer, are slower times,” said Faupel. “Around food banks, we like to joke that we wished there was a holiday year-round that would remind people to give. “One of the challenges of summer is that there is an increase in demand and a decrease in supply, because kids that were normally getting some meals at school are now out of school.” Faupel said she has been encouraging some of the people who ask the food bank for help to apply to the food stamp program, the government’s nutritional aid for low income families. “The charitable system has limitations to it,” said Faupel. “The government has more flexibility than we do. It’s not a charity; it’s the government’s nutritional plan. “And we’re all watching the new economic stimulus plan, because it’s giving more benefits to the food stamp program and more money to our efforts.” Shasonjia Pearson, a financial support worker at the Lee County Department of Human Resources, said the food stamp office has also seen an increase in the number of people applying for assistance. “A lot of people are coming here with different situations,” said Pearson. “But we offer expedited service, which requires people with immediate needs to be seen within five days, and, if they qualify for benefits, to receive the benefits within seven days. In the meantime, we recommend them to seek help from the food pantries.” Just as the economy has its highs and lows, so does the need for assistance.

The entrance of Faupel’s office is lined with large black cans representing the hunger needs of the area and the aid the food bank has given. Faupel said she is grateful for the help the food bank has received from the community, even with the decline in individual donations. “We are really blessed to be in the community we are in,” said Faupel. “The media has done a good job showing the increased need in our area. The community wants to help provide food to those who need it.” Youth and other community organizations have sponsored food drives. In February, the local Boy Scout groups collected more than 12,000 pounds of food. Faupel is also excited to have two new companies working with Feeding America to give large donations daily -- Wal-Mart and Winn-Dixie Supermarkets. “In the past, Wal-Mart hasn’t been the biggest supporter of food banks,” said Faupel, “but Feeding America has worked out a deal with them to donate from their bakery and produce sections.” Faupel said the Food Bank of East Alabama has four Wal-Mart Supercenters in its area that will be donating daily. “We feel strongly about being able to have a produce section, even though it’s challenging,” said Faupel. “It’s good to have can foods, but it’s best to have fresher foods. Being in a low-income household goes hand-in-hand with malnutrition.” Faupel said having a produce section in a food bank is rare since it’s so hard to keep the items fresh, but it’s important to have healthy options offered to the households relying on these organizations for food. “Certain parts of the population will stay in need, they always need help,” said Faupel. “But what we’re seeing now is people who have never been there. It causes emotional stress in suddenly having to ask for help. “I was talking to a man on the phone the other day who was asking for help for the first time. While we were talking, he paused and said he never thought he’d be asking for help, because he use to be the one donating to us. That’s the kind of people we’re seeing now.”