The Warwick North Little League Challenger team recently wrapped up its season, capping off another summer of fun as it continues to boast strong numbers and preach inclusion to the local sports community.
The Challenger division pairs children with disabilities with player-partners, and they team up to learn the game of baseball and compete against other local leagues with Challenger teams. North is part of District 3, which includes teams such as Warwick Continental, East Greenwich, Cranston Western and Westerly.
North’s team featured more than 20 kids between the athletes and partners, which was the largest that it has had in recent years. The North Challengers program was headed by league treasurer Jaime Banspach, who has remained a mainstay at North since her son aged out of the league four years ago. Banspach’s impact on the Challenger team and North league has been tremendous, according to North president Sean Wiggins.
“Seeing someone like Jaime, whose kid hasn’t been in our league for four years, remain a member of our board, she just does so much for our league. She’s our treasurer, she does our concessions, our uniforms, then she does this,” said Wiggins.
Wiggins has also been involved with promoting the Challengers team and has been thrilled with the support it has received within the North family.
“Our program has grown leaps and bounds over the years. The support that we have received from our Warwick North community has grown. We have players and families that help. Kids that age out of the program will come back to help,” Wiggins said.
With so many organizations introducing similar leagues like unified sports in high schools and middle schools, Wiggins is proud of North’s commitment to the Challengers program – which has been around since his playing days more than three decades ago – and its impact on Rhode Island sports.
“It’s a great partnership. The players that are helping in our league are learning so much from these kids. It’s incredible. The relationships that they build are incredible. It’s important to give kids the opportunity to play and to have fun doing so, then it leads to opportunities in high school,” said Wiggins. “Now seeing what Holliman and Hoxsie did (by introducing) unified basketball, all of these programs are having an impact on the community. It is so unbelievably great for these kids.”
Although North team hosted impressive numbers this past season, the league is still anxious to further develop its program. For more information or to sign up, reach out to Wiggins at Sean@WarwickNorth.com.
“We want players. We want kids to experience this program,” Wiggins said. “Everyone is welcome and we’re accepting applications.”
Members of the North Challengers team included: Logan Zawislak, Ryan Zawislak, William Horton, Auber Mello, Ali Parker, Tony Saab, James Alleson, Natalie Fratus, Levi Narcavage, Xander Simas, Camden Ferreira, Aiden Domino, Gabe Rachielle, Quinn Wiggins, Wile Cook, Ainan Ferreira, Josh Conley. Coaches were: Jaime Banspach, Sean Wiggins, Jeff Ferreira, Bryan Conley, Dave Narcavage, Joe Rachielle.