It's the day many look forward to way in advance: Buddy Baseball.
Area high schoolers team up to play ball with children with Downs Syndrome.
Playing baseball all around Don Roddy field in Bellevue are 21 buddies and more than 50 volunteers. "I think it's really important to give back in the community because they work hard during the season and give back" It's an event that both volunteers and buddies look forward to every year. "I had a little buddy the other day say I only have 7 more sleeps til buddy baseball-that is just the best you can't get any better than that."
This event brings baseball players from Bellevue East and West high schools to help these buddies play. Both Jake Weaver and Logan Cunningham helped buddy Jordan Burtzel play. "Showing him the ropes, let him get a chance to play." "We've been buddies at every buddy baseball we've been friends forever." These two volunteers are Bellevue East alumni coming back every year to teach these kids. "It's such a great feeling, because every kid deserves a chance to play baseball." Organizers say it's these volunteers that make the difference.
"We love these kids so much we are so glad they are here, they make our day as volunteers we couldn't ask for a better group of kids to be with."
Organizers say this was the 3rd annual Buddy Baseball and they hope next year's event is bigger and better.
