Local Little League action 'pretty awesome'
(Photo by ERIC PLUMMER) Aaron Vierra pushed his son Cooper Vierra down the first base line during a two inning Challenger Division baseball game.
(Photo by ERIC PLUMMER) Brayden Raffo, right, carried the bat all the way around the bases after hitting it off a tee, heading toward home with his “buddy” player Adam Belgarde.
SANDPOINT — Little League has been providing great memories for as long as kids have played baseball, and more were made on Thursday during a new Challenger Division game at Travers Park.
A steady rain and muddy bases mattered not to Cooper Vierra and Brayden Raffo, who got to hit a couple of times and also play the field. Their smiles told the tale, as each rounded the bases while the two Sandpoint Little League Majors teams played defense.
The first year program, geared toward kids with physical or mental disabilities, drew only two local entries this year. League president Tony Butler wanted to make sure the two got the experience of playing baseball on a team and arranged a two-inning exhibition.
Vierra hit first off a tee, one handed at that, before his dad Aaron pushed him around the bases at a fairly steady clip. He also got to field the ball as a pitcher, and was pushed over in time to throw a runner out at first.
It marked a chance for the 15-year-old to not only play, but join his brother Trapper, who plays on the Sand Creek Custom Wear Mariners.
“Pretty awesome,” said dad Aaron Vierra, who is one of the Mariners coaches. “He loves baseball.”
Raffo drew plenty of cheers and chuckles when he wouldn’t drop the bat after hitting off a tee, carrying it all the way around the bases with his “baseball buddy” Adam Belgarde. When Belgarde found out about the game, he requested to be Raffo’s buddy player. Players from both the Mariners and the Avista Royals took part in the action, making for some fun moments.
Sand Creek Custom Wear printed out two new uniforms with each players’ name on the back, and for two rainy innings, they were part of a baseball team. All of the players met on the mound for a group picture to cap the action.
“Cooper’s smile was priceless,” wrote Butler in an email afterward. “It was very humbling and I was glad Sandpoint Little League was able to make it happen with the help of a few volunteers.”
After the game, a well-wisher noted Cooper’s uniform was muddy, which brought out that smile again.
“Yep, I’m all muddy. Thank you,” he said, always thanking everyone who slapped him five.
He was asked what his favorite part of the game was, and his answer said it best.
“All of it,” he said.