Bedford Little League Challenger Division players hit it out of the park – Fenway Park, that is.

On Tuesday, July 29, the Bedford Little League Challenger took part in the CVS Caremark All Kids Can Baseball Camp. The baseball camp is the result of a team endeavor by CVS Caremark and the Boston Red Sox to provide New England children with disabilities a dream-fulfilling chance to play ball at Fenway Park and get batting tips from Red Sox batting coach Dave Magadan.

The camps are part of the signature CVS Caremark All Kids Can program, which focuses on helping children with disabilities learn, play and succeed in life.

The Challengers includes players aged 5 to 14 years from Bedford.

The CVS Caremark All Kids Can Baseball Camps include batting practice in the Red Sox batting cage and on-field batting practice with Magadan, a photo opportunity and lunch in the Red Sox dugout, a visit from Red Sox mascot Wally the Green Monster, a VIP tour of Fenway Park, early entry to the Red Sox batting practice and tickets to the game in the CVS/pharmacy family section.

“This is the first year we’ve had a Challenger Division in Bedford in over 13 years and the kids and their families have truly enjoyed this remarkable experience,” said Laura Pace, coordinator of the Bedford Little League Challenger Division.

“Most of our kids had never played a team sport. But, by the end of the season they were learning the basics of the game and having a great time playing with their new friends. They never let their own personal challenges get in the way of having fun. They are all superstars.”

And, to top off this year’s experience with a trip to Fenway Park, where the Bedford Challengers had an opportunity to practice their skills with Magadan, tour the park and attend a game is more than they or their parents, ever could have imagined, she said, “This is truly a dream come true and we are grateful to CVS and the Red Sox for making this incredible experience a reality,” Pace said.

This is the sixth of seven CVS Caremark All Kids Can Baseball Camps that run this season through Aug. 13. In planning the camps, CVS Caremark reached out to coaches of Little League Challenger teams, Miracle League teams and inclusive baseball teams in the New England area to apply to attend one of the camps. The camps are part of a continued six-year partnership between CVS Caremark and the Boston Red Sox, demonstrating their shared commitment to local children with disabilities.

“We’re pleased to host our fourth season of giving New England children with disabilities a once-in-a-lifetime experience at Fenway Park,” said Eileen Howard Dunn, senior vice president of corporate communications and community relations for CVS Caremark Corporation.

The Challenger Division was established in 1989 as a separate division of Little League Baseball to enable boys and girls with physical and mental disabilities to enjoy the game of baseball along with the millions of other children who participate in this sport worldwide. The division is open for all who are between 5 and 18 years old. Teams are set up according to abilities.

For more information on the Bedford Challengers, contact Laura Pace at 488-5317 or e-mail at challenger@bedfordll.com. Or visit www.youthleaguemanagement. com and click on Challenger Division.

– Submitted by Dawn Ratte