By Sue Teggart
C & G Sports Writer

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — After two years of planning, a dream has finally become a reality.

On Aug. 6, the first pitch was thrown at the dedication ceremony for the new adaptive baseball field for the Challenger Division of the Clinton Valley Little League at Neil Reid Park in Clinton Township. The Macomb County Knights of Columbus hosted the event.

Norm Hott Field, the new home of Challenger baseball, has been an ongoing project for Marilyn Wittstock, a District 6 assistant administrator of the Clinton Valley Little League Challenger Division — a baseball program for kids with special needs.

“It is a dream come true,” Wittstock said. “I’m relieved. I’m happy. It’s been a lot of hard work, but it’s for a great group of kids and great families.”

Norm Hott Field was named by former Detroit Tigers first baseman — currently a member of the Boston Red Sox — Sean Casey and his wife, Mandi, in memory of Mandi Casey’s grandfather, Norm Hott. An avid baseball fan and advocate for children with special needs, Hott believed all children should have an opportunity to play baseball.

The field provides an athletic environment structured for children with disabilities. It is the first and only Little League field of its kind in Michigan with an authentic look and with all the amenities for children with special needs.

The field includes a grass infield and outfield with rubberized base paths, for kids with wheelchairs or walkers to easily maneuver.

“That’s what makes it unique for the Challenger kids, it allows us to still use the regular baseball and bat because it’s still like a regular baseball field,” Wittstock said. “They don’t have to worry about falling and injuring themselves.”

This year marked the Challenger Division’s 14th season and the first time the 5- to 18-year-old boys and girls could play their last couple weeks of the season in a safe and structured environment.

“This finally means they have a place of their own to play,” Wittstock said. “It’s their own field of dreams.”

After previously playing at Civic Center Park in Clinton Township, Wittstock was excited about the flexibility and freedom Norm Hott Field offers because it was built exclusively for the Challenger Division.  

“We don’t have to share fields anymore or worry about schedules or conflicts. We don’t have to worry about people being on the field when we show up,” Wittstock said. “This is their field. This is exclusively for the Challenger kids.”

Greg Villasurda, 11, of St. Clair Shores is autistic and said he thought the new field was “cool” and was excited to throw out the first pitch for his team.

“I think it’s going to be a great opportunity for the kids,” said Greg’s mother, Jennifer Villasurda. “Some of the kids have a hard time navigating the other field, so I think this is going to be a big improvement to have their own field.”

Wittstock said without the help of generous sponsors, the field would not have been possible.

The Macomb County Knights of Columbus raised over $14,000 for the project, while Wittstock raised approximately $30,000 in donations from local businesses.

Casey also donated $10,000, and the Detroit Tigers Foundation — which challenged someone to match its donation of $10,000 — got its wish when Bill LaKritz of LaKritz-Weber and Company, a retail commercial real estate company based in Southfield, matched it with a $10,000 donation.

The league is open to all metro Detroit children, including those with a wide range of disabilities. Approximately 60 children register each season and are divided into four teams that play 12 games.

For more information about Challenger Baseball, call Wittstock at (586) 781-5547 or e-mail mwitt26@msn.com

You can reach Sports Writer Sue Teggart at steggart@candgnews.com or at (586) 279-1107.