When players in Bedford’s Challenger Little League wake up in the morning, they often have a question for their parents. Is it a baseball day?

The league, which recently completed its second season of play, gives children with disabilities the opportunity to take part in organized sport.

While the children in the league benefit from the social and physical aspects of the league, they aren’t the only ones who enjoyed this season’s practices and games.

“It’s kind of a selfish thing,” said Diane Baxter, a league parent. “It’s as fulfilling for me watching as it is for the kids to play. Just seeing their smile is so great, and being given a forum to be able to do that is something I never would have thought of.”

Coordinator Laura Pace was the driving force to the creation of the league two years ago, but admitted she and the league’s coaches weren’t able to convey baseball skills as well as they’d hoped.

During a board meeting, Bedford Little League liaison Cary Buxton heard Pace discussing that the league’s coaches weren’t well-versed in baseball skills. Buxton immediately volunteered to step in and throughout this season taught skills camps and coaching clinics, leading to a different tone to the second season.

“Last year was more of a recreational thing,” said Pace. “This year they were playing ball – they were throwing and catching. That’s greatly in part to Cary teaching us how to work with our kids and setting high expectations. In doing so, I think they came really far this year.”

Each game this year kicked off with a special performance by Baxter’s daughter, Lily, who sang the National Anthem on game days.

The contests are organized, but also a friendly competition and players can take a break from the action whenever they need one.

Teams are made up of six or seven players, and every player gets a chance to bat during each inning. Most of the players hit soft-tossed pitches and can have a do-over if they’re upset with the location of their hit.

Players are also joined on the field by buddies, mostly high-school aged volunteers who help out. Chris Legacy, a coach in the league, said the volunteers often enjoy the experience as much as the players.

“I had a teenager come up to me after one of the games just to tell me how much he loved being there and how good it made him feel,” said Legacy. “They see the kids appreciate it and it makes them understand that there’s more to life than just themselves.”

Pace said the two times the teams get together each week during the year often aren’t enough. “For all of our kids, this is the only opportunity they have to take part in a group sport activitiy,” said Pace. “We focus on their ability, not their disabilities.

For my son, he just has a pride that he’s a baseball player. The kids get up every morning and want to put their uniform on, they want to know if it’s baseball day.”

When the league began two years ago, 20 area children participated.

The number of players rose to 28 this year, and Pace said the growth is evident beyond the numbers. “I’ve never done anything this rewarding,” said Pace. “We started this for our kids, but it has touched so many lives here. It’s definitely far exceeded any expectations I had.”