Simi Valley Little League Challenger Division

Welcome. We are so excited you are visiting our booster page. We are a baseball league geared specifically for special needs children.

The Challenger League was established in 1989 and spearheaded by one woman who had a vision. A league which allows physically or mentally disabled children to play baseball from the age 4 until 21+ no matter the severity of their disability. Bonnie Rasmussan launched the division over a decade ago after a friend’s son said he wanted to play baseball. He had cerebral palsy, and although he was the mascot to his brother’s team he wanted to be able to swing the bat and cross home plate too. The first year that the league started only 14 children signed up. Today there are over 50 players. Oh how the league has grown.

It’s such a great program. We create a comfort zone where parents can bring their child and know their child will be loved and accepted just the way they are. We want to make these children’s lives more enriched. Often, children with disabilities aren’t given the same opportunities as their peers, they have never played on a team or worn a jersey. We want to see them playing ball that they see other children playing. The children need this program and that is why we are so passionate about this league.

How often do you put out the question “Is there anything I can do to help?” Supporting and participating is a great way ANYBODY can help. You don’t have to have a child with special needs, you don’t have to have a child at all. By purchasing a shirt you are not only helping the kids, you are telling everyone around you that you support the program too. The challenger’s baseball league is a non-profit organization. Help us spread the word, and together we can make this program even more successful.