There was a large and enthusiastic crowd this weekend at the Southern Illinois Center in Du Quoin as more than two dozen girls softball teams from Illinois, Missouri, Indiana and Kentucky competed in the annual girls indoor softball tournament.
These girls, 16 and younger, are serious about softball. You don’t want to be in the line of fire when the best pitchers wind up and rocket that big yellow ball toward home plate — as fast as 60 mph — unless you have a bat in your hand.
But softball is not what this event is really about. Instead, it’s the Honorary Special Olympics Athletes, one assigned to each team, who march onto the field during opening ceremonies, sit in the dugout with the team, cheer with the fans, and bask in the sheer joy of the moment.
“It’s all about these (athletes),” said Bill Asbury, the tournament founder and director. “It’s about giving them the experience of being a part of a team, of being accepted and having fun.”
Asbury should know. His daughter, Brennan, is a Special Olympics athlete, and he’s coached for six years.
This tournament has raised more than $370,000 for Special Olympics Illinois in its first seven years.
According to Linda Wunder, regional district of Special Olympics Illinois Southern/Area 15, the money provides direct support to more than 900 Special Olympic athletes and individuals with disabilities in Alexander, Franklin, Johnson, Massac, Perry, Pulaski, Randolph, Union and Williamson counties.
Many people make this tournament happen — like the sponsors whose generosity makes it possible, and the volunteers who work with the athletes one on one and who make sure they feel special — giving them T-shirts, bracelets and official badges; organizing special activities when they’re not with their teams, and making sure there’s always food and friendly company.
Kelli Boss of Du Quoin, the tournament’s activity coordinator, knows what this event is all about.
“I love every one of these kids like they were my own,” she said, sweeping her arm across the activity room to take in about 25 athletes with disabilities.
“This is an awesome event for an awesome cause and just look at the smiles on their faces. That’s what it’s all about.”
Tekoa Huseman, a 33-year-old Special Olympian from Pinckneyville, sat in the bleachers between games with her mother, Sandra Barton, and their team, the Black Widows. On one break, the team gave Tekoa a large gift bag full of goodies, just to see if her smile could get any wider. It could.
“These events give these children the positive attention that they don’t normally get in everyday life,” Sandra Barton said. “Tekoa will be beaming for weeks.”
“It’s a lot of fun,” Tekoa said. “It’s a lot of fun to be with my friends. And it’s even more fun when the Black Widows win, and we’re gonna win!”
By the end of Tekoa’s little speech, the whole team was beaming.
Sheridan Coleman of Carbondale, the Special Olympics athlete for the Midland Magics, came to the tournament with her mother, Zenetta Coleman, and grandmother, Corene McDaniel.
Coleman and McDaniel said Sheridan has been basking in the friendship and camaraderie.
“It has really been a wonderful experience for her,” Corrine said. “And it’s been wonderful for us just watching Sheridan.”
Sheridan didn’t have time to talk. She was jumping up and down.
“I need to go with my teammates,” she said, as Magic players waved at her to join them at one of the vendor booths. “Can I, Mom?” And off she went.
“I can’t remember when she’s had this much fun,” her mom said.
Steve Beaver and his wife, Jill, founders of the SI Dirt Dawgs, came to support all of their girls in the tournament. Both of them say the opening ceremony is their favorite part of the tournament.
“We love it,” Jill said. “You can’t help but get emotional when you see how much this means to every Special Olympics athlete on that field.
“I know that our players absolutely love Brennan (Asbury), our athlete. And I know, by the look on Brennan’s face, that she loves us.”
Brennan’s dad, Bill Asbury, buzzed around the building in a continuous loop Saturday morning, handling a question about a softball pairing from one parent, hugging and high-fiving Special Olympics athletes, running out for another propane tank, delivering medals and T-shirts to volunteers and helping his crew wrestle an inflatable tunnel out of its bag and get it ready for the athletes to run through during opening ceremonies.
As the ceremonies commenced he stood in the background as announcer Keenan Rice worked the microphone and the crowd. He handed out plaques to financial supporters, awarded raffle prizes and emceed a hilarious karaoke competition between coaches.
The Special Olympics athletes smiled, danced and sang, and led their teams onto the field. Each athlete was introduced to the crowd — a mix of softball parents and Special Olympics families — who clapped and cheered, whistled and whooped it up for each and every one.
And by the time those ceremonies were over, even the folks attending their very first Special Olympics event knew what it was all about. And the SI Center hummed with enough positive energy to cure all of the problems in the world.
• Presenting sponsors of this year’s tournament were Ward Chrysler Center of Carbondale, Ward KIA Center of Carbondale, Knight Hawk Coal L.L.C., and the Mathis Family of Du Quoin. Supporting sponsors were the Du Quoin Tourism Commission, Lee’s Sports, Indoor Softball Inc., Fenton’s Custom and Collision, Country Financial and Alongi’s Italian Restaurant in Du Quoin.
