ability

BASEBALL

Two men playing catch on a baseball field on a sunny day, one wearing a red shirt and gray shorts, the other wearing a black shirt, white baseball pants, and colorful sneakers, with other people and trees in the background.
A man and a girl, both wearing winter clothing and helmets, are standing on a green sports field, engaged in a conversation or coaching moment.

ABOUT

The Sunshine Ballpark Foundation, in partnership with the Fredericksburg Parks & Recreation Department, offers Ability Baseball - a league that gives children and adults with physical and developmental disabilities the opportunity to play America’s pastime in a supportive, structured league where every player can succeed.

Ability Baseball practices and games take place at Sunshine Ballpark on Ability Field, a fully accessible astro-turf field that is wheelchair and walker friendly. The field features oversized dugouts that comfortably accommodate players, coaches, and Buddies.

Buddies are local high school baseball players who volunteer to assist Ability Baseball players during games with hitting, fielding, and running the bases, while also helping keep them safe. Together, they create an inclusive, fun, and confidence-building baseball experience for every participant.

Logo for Sunshine Ballpark Foundation Baseball featuring a baseball with crossed bats, the word 'ABILITY' above, and a row of diverse figures, including a person in a wheelchair, below.
An aerial view of a small professional baseball or softball field with green grass in the outfield and a red infield, surrounded by trees and a grassy area. The field has a seating area with a green roof on the right side and a small scoreboard in center field.

ABILITY FIELD

Opened in 2012 in partnership with the Sunshine Lady Foundation, the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation, and the local community, Ability Field is centrally located in the City of Fredericksburg inside Sunshine Ballpark, providing convenient access for children and families throughout the region.

The artificial turf playing surface and covered dugouts offer a weather-resistant environment for year-round use and enjoyment. The field is fully accessible and thoughtfully designed to accommodate children with differing abilities.

People watching a youth baseball or softball game at a field with a chain-link fence, trees, and cloudy sky in the background.
Welcome sign for Sunshine Ball Park with a green background, a sun graphic, and kids playing, surrounded by flower beds and set on a grassy area near a road.
Person in a motorized wheelchair smiling at a baseball game, wearing a red cap, white jacket, and white pants, with baseball gloves on hands. Someone standing behind with a blue jacket and glove, on a baseball field.
Young boy playing baseball, swinging a bat at a pitched ball on a baseball field.
A smiling young male baseball player wearing a Miami Marlins cap and t-shirt holding a baseball glove with a baseball inside at a baseball field.

HISTORY

A man and young girl on a baseball field, with the man crouching and the girl holding a baseball glove, both wearing orange shirts.

The Origin of Ability Baseball League:

Nearly twenty years ago, when his daughter Ally was born with Down syndrome, Coach Scott Neal knew he wanted her to have the same team-sport experience he’d shared with his three sons. At a local Down syndrome support gathering, he listened as other parents talked about their children playing in a Little League Challenger Division - an adaptive baseball program - in Northern Virginia.

Hearing those stories, he became determined to create a similar opportunity closer to home for Ally and other children with developmental disabilities in the Fredericksburg area. Working with Spotsylvania County Little League, he established their Challenger Division.

From 2006–2025, Coach Neal served as Vice President of Spotsylvania County Little League’s Challenger Division. In this role, he oversaw team creation, ordered uniforms and equipment, scheduled practices and games, and partnered with local high school baseball programs to provide “Buddies” who supported Challenger players on the field. He poured his heart and soul into the program so that his daughter, her friends, and youth and adults with disabilities across the region could experience the joy, confidence, and community that come with playing baseball.

A young girl and an older man are posing together on a sports field. The girl is standing and smiling, wearing a black shirt and black pants with sports shoes. The man is kneeling on one knee, wearing a red athletic shirt, white shorts, black sneakers, and a baseball cap, with his hand on his knee and the girl’s arm around his shoulder. Behind them are green trees, a scoreboard, and advertising banners.

Ability Baseball League Today:

After recently stepping down from Little League, Coach Neal founded Sunshine Ballpark Foundation’s Ability Baseball League—an independent league based at Sunshine Ballpark rather than just one division within a larger organization. As League Commissioner, he can now tailor every aspect of the experience to the players and their families, from game formats and coaching support to the use of Buddies and adaptive equipment.

Coach Neal brings the same passion, energy, and organizational leadership to Ability Baseball that he has shown throughout his decades of coaching. Together with Sunshine Ballpark Foundation, he is helping ensure the continued growth and success of inclusive baseball in Fredericksburg.

TESTIMONIALS

A young boy with glasses and a red baseball jersey smiling at a baseball game, with the field and other spectators in the background.

Bill Downs (Alex’s Grandfather and Coach):

“2017, Alex Jeffrey had just turned 5 and America’s favorite past-time became Alex’s favorite past-time.

Alex is severely, visually impaired, lacks muscle dexterity and coordination control. “No walking in baseball” and “1,2,3 Baseball” changed all of that. Confidence to succeed, competition and camaraderie became new inspiration for my grandson.

Alex was no longer isolated by his differences. His abilities were no longer disabilities. His individual and team successes are now inspiration and positive celebrations, no matter how big or small.

Thank you, League families and volunteers.”

A man in sunglasses, a blue baseball cap with an orange logo, and an orange shirt is holding a baseball. He is smiling on a baseball field with others in the background.

Sean Griffin (Richard’s Dad):

“Richard is looking forward to playing in his 18th year of baseball. Through the efforts of enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers, Richard has learned the physical skills of catching, throwing, batting, and running the bases. 

More importantly, playing baseball has taught Richard sportsmanship, teamwork, and the fun of physical exercise in the fresh air. When he goes to watch professional  games, he wears his baseball uniform and he cheers any good play, particularly when a player hits one “OVER THE FENCE!”

He is very proud of the new baseball cap he gets for each season and wears it every day until he joins a new team for the next season.  Whether he is wearing his Mets or his Mud Hens cap, he will happily tell people he plays baseball and mentions Coach Scott and Coach Mikey. 

There is no better community in Fredericksburg than the players, coaches, and volunteers of Ability Baseball and nothing is as sure to bring a smile to his face than playing baseball.”

A man wearing glasses, a red Miami Marlins baseball cap, and a black Marlins t-shirt stands outdoors with greenery in the background, near a chain-link backstop.

Coach Mike Lastes:

“Through 18 years I have had the honor and privilege to be part of our league.

I have seen and coached over 500 toddlers, teens, young adults and adults with differing abilities.

To say that our league has changed all of our lives would be a monumental understatement.

We have seen our league and our players grow but the one thing that doesn’t change is the foundation in respect and love.

I can say whole heartedly that our league is the best way we give back to these athletes and show them that we have all have our own abilities and there is no walking in baseball.”

A young boy in a baseball uniform running on a baseball field near an adult coach, who is wearing a black shirt and shorts, during a game or practice.

John Callahan (Jack’s Father and Coach):

“Our family discovered adaptive baseball in the fall of 2022.

Since then, playing in this league has exceeded every hope and expectation we had for finding an inclusive, engaging, and - most of all - fun opportunity for our child to participate in youth baseball.

The Ability Baseball League welcomes players of all ages and abilities, and provides an accessible, supportive environment that has helped our child learn teamwork, sportsmanship, and the fundamentals of the game.

We couldn’t be happier to be part of this community, and we look forward to playing for years to come.”

SIGN UP HERE

CLICK LINK HERE

TO BE REDIRECTED TO SIGN UP PAGE

To register for Ability Baseball, please go to the LINK above, then click on:

-Log In with Email

-Sign up (this will create an account for you)

-Once your account is created, under your account, click on the green plus sign to add Account Member. This is how you add your baseball player.

-Once that is done, click on Sports, Ability Baseball, either Senior or Junior, and finish the process.

A young woman sitting on a silver bench at a sports field, holding a baseball glove, with water bottles on the ledge behind her, wearing a gray athletic shirt and black shorts.
A young girl wearing a black baseball helmet, red shirt, and white pants crouches on a green field holding a pink baseball glove.
A girl baseball player swinging a bat at the baseball field
A boy running on a tennis court with a smile, dressed in a black sports shirt, white pants, and black shoes. There are tennis bags and bottles in the background.
A young person wearing a baseball helmet and blue t-shirt, smiling and waving, at a baseball field, with others in the background.