Williamsport, Pennsylvania isn’t the only site of a Little League Baseball tournament this month. Boothbay Harbor is hosting the second annual State Little League Challenger Jamboree on Aug. 25 and 26. Little League Challenger is a division for youths ages 4-18 with developmental disabilities. The division began in 1989 and has more than 30,000 youth in over 900 leagues worldwide, according to Little League’s website.

This weekend, all six of Maine’s Challenger Division teams will participate in a season-ending jamboree at Boothbay Region High School. Games will take place on a Little League diamond and high school baseball and softball fields. The jamboree includes teams representing  Lincoln County, Medomak, Oceanside, South Portland/Saco and two from Ellsworth.

On Saturday, all six teams play games at 10:30 a.m. At noon, the jamboree breaks for lunch. It resumes at 12:30 p.m. with the second annual Buddy Pick-up Kick Ball game. During a long break in the inaugural Challenger Jamboree, Little Leaguers spontaneously created their own activity.

“They ate lunch and were raring to go. So they found their buddies and started an impromptu kickball game. It was so successful it became a scheduled event,” said Lincoln County Coach Paul Miner. 

At 2 p.m., the Little Leaguer parade commences with all six teams marching in uniforms from the high school to Sarah’s Scoops. At 3 p.m., players reassemble at the high school for a Pitch, Hit and Run Contest, Home Run Derby, a batting cage session, a timed radar gun bullpen session, and an autographed baseball signing. At 5 p.m., the jamboree welcomes a special guest: Boston Red Sox mascot Wally appears during the barbecue dinner. Wally will pose for photos with players. At 6:30, the Medomak team hosts a special ceremony presenting all Challenger Little Leaguers with a participation medal. They will also honor District 2 Little League umpires who worked during the regular season.

At 6:30 p.m., players return to the diamond for more games. Sunday is the rain date. If Saturday’s games are played, then on Sunday, the jamboree wraps up at 9 a.m. with breakfast sandwiches and coffee followed by a pick-up game at 10 a.m. At noon, the players assemble for handshakes and good-byes.

This is the Lincoln County’s team third year in the division. The team played one game a week each Sunday beginning July 8 for six weeks. Lincoln played Medomak (Waldoboro) and Oceanside (Rockland). Three years ago, Miner started the division locally due to the inspiration of his nephew, Daniel Harris, from South Carolina. Miner’s extended family was in Cumberland watching a New England Patriots game. At halftime, the family went outside for an impromptu touch football game.

Harris, 7, has cerebral palsy. Seeing Daniel wanted to join his cousins, Miner strapped him on his back. “He was laughing and giggling uncontrollably. He had the best time of his life,” Miner said. “Then it hit me.  Why aren’t we doing this here for kids with similar challenges.”

The following spring, Miner helped organize the team which was joined by another in Medomak. The two Lincoln County teams were joined a year later by one from Oceanside. The three Midcoast teams joined three others last August in Ellsworth for the first jamboree.

In planning the second jamboree, organizers looked for a venue which had multiple fields and lights. The BRHS campus had all that and more. “Last year, there was only one field which meant a lot of hanging around. Also the lights are great because kids love playing at night. The field is close to Sarah’s Scoops and Flagship Inn so Boothbay Harbor is a perfect location,” Miner said.

Lincoln County has 11 players including two locals, Anthony Angelico and Cameron Holbrook. For Miner, the new league is a tremendous success for challenged youths seeking to play a team sport. “It’s been great  and our numbers are growing like crazy,” he said.

In Challenger, score isn’t kept so for Miner and others, success is measured by players’ expressions. “Kids start out hitting from tee, and when they start hitting live pitching, it’s priceless to see their faces. It’s just a wonderful environment to be involved in.”

Miner also attributes the league’s success to volunteers and sponsors who contribute greatly so kids can play baseball. Lincoln County’s team sponsor is The First National Bank. Miner acknowledged the bank’s financial contribution to the team. “We planned and planned and planned and a lot people gave generously to this. When it came to selecting a partner, we wanted one with the same long term goals. The First has been wonderful, willing to go the whole route with the best jerseys and equipment,” he said.