Opening of Miracle Field League ‘On’ for tonight

Published 9:00 pm Wednesday, June 22, 2011

With rain in the forecast for today, the plans for the opening of the Miracle League Field are hopeful but tentative.

Dan Smith, Troy City Parks and Recreation director, said the chance of rain today is 60 percent.

“But we’re crossing our fingers and hoping we can get it in,” Smith said. “However, if we have to postpone the opening, then it will be either Monday or Tuesday, contingent on the schedules of the dignitaries.”

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Troy Mayor Jimmy Lunsford, former State Senator Wendell Mitchell, National Miracle Field League President Diane Alford and representatives from CGI in Troy are expected to attend.

The opening ceremony will be followed by a one-inning game as opposed to the two-inning games that are played during the regular Miracle Field League games.

The Troy Miracle Field League has two teams of 12 players each. There is no age limit and there are no umpires.

“The Miracle Field League rules are modified,” Smith said. “There are no outs and every player bats and every player scores because the last player always hits a home run and clears the bases.”

Dr. David Runyon is the coach of the Angels and Shane Brown coaches the Braves.

“The Miracle League employs the buddy system and each player has a ‘buddy’ with him or her at all times,” Smith said.

The buddies for the opening night game will be from CGI and members of the 2009 pre-minor tournament team.

“The postponement of opening night had no effect on the number of games the Troy Miracle Field League teams will play,” Smith said. “We’ll still have three games and we need buddies for those games.”

Smith said businesses, organizations and individuals are encouraged to be buddies for the Miracle League teams.

For more information or to become a buddy, call Smith at 670-6067.