Kids Who Volunteered at Adaptive Baseball Program Are Now Helping It Grow and Evolve

[UPDATED] Teenagers who once spent their Saturday mornings helping children with physical and intellectual challenges play baseball at Heasley Field are coming back. This time, they and two classmates are the ones planning the camp.

Sierra Madre Little League’s Challenger Division enters its 11th season this spring as a free, adaptive baseball program for players with physical and intellectual challenges. The division plays inter-league games with Pasadena American Little League at Hamilton Field in Pasadena, along with teams from South Pasadena and Arcadia, drawing on a network of volunteer “buddies” — young athletes who show up before their own games to support Challenger players on the field.

This year, two of those former buddies are seniors at St. Francis High School in La Cañada Flintridge. Aiden Mahoney and Caysen Sullivan were in middle school when they first volunteered with the program. Now, the two are joining classmates Bobby Milton and Sean Phillips in a shared senior service project to run a one-day camp for Challenger players.

“As former Challenger buddies, Aiden Mahoney and Caysen Sullivan remembered their middle school volunteer time fondly and when challenged by a St. Francis teacher with an assignment to give back to their community, they thought of our Challenger program,” said Shannon Perry, who coaches the Sierra Madre team.

At the same time, Lily a 9th grader at Flintridge Prep chose the program as her Girl Scout silver award project — and arrived with plans that go well beyond a single event. Lily, who is a former Sierra Madre softball player proposed three important changes: an outreach campaign to bring in new players; a season-opening “Dust Off Your Gloves” event offering families a casual meal to connect before the games begin; and a more structured buddy system in which entire little league teams sign up together to partner with Challenger players game by game.

“The idea that our program inspired such incredible generosity in Lily and the gentlemen from St. Francis is exceptional and we are thrilled to have them back to support our team,” Perry said. “It is an honor to be the recipient of the attention of these extraordinary young people.”

The Challenger Division was created by Little League International in 1989 to give players with physical and intellectual challenges a place in the game. The program is non-competitive — scores are not kept — and relies on the buddy system to keep players safe. Nationally, more than 30,000 participants across more than 900 leagues worldwide take part in Challenger programs, according to Little League International.

Sierra Madre’s version spans four leagues. Games are played on Saturday mornings at 9 a.m., rotating between Heasley Field in Sierra Madre, Hamilton Field in Pasadena, Orange Grove Park in South Pasadena, and Lojeski Field in Arcadia. The team ranges in age from 5 to 26 and possibly beyond, Perry said, with some original players from the program’s first year still participating as Senior Challenger members. Older players, Perry said, become mentors to younger ones.

“A lot of our older players become mentors to the younger players and the comradery and joy we have on our beautiful home at Heasley Field is unmatched,” Perry said.

The program charges nothing. All four leagues involved in the San Gabriel Valley Challenger network operate their programs at no cost to families, relying on donations and volunteer labor. Sierra Madre Little League supplies uniforms and field time, and the league keeps the diner at Heasley Field staffed with hot coffee and donuts for early Saturday games, with hamburgers and hot dogs sourced from local Taylor’s Market.

“Our Challenger programs are at no cost to the families and we rely on the generous donations of our communities to make that happen,” Perry said.

Perry said the program is actively looking for new players. It accommodates all ability levels and adjusts to each player individually. There are no tryouts and no practices — only Saturday morning games, which start at 9 a.m. Players can join at any point during the season.

“We can accommodate all abilities and welcome all interested (and disinterested — their parents know what I mean) players,” Perry said.

South Pasadena Little League’s 2026 Spring Challenger season is scheduled to run from March 6 through May 17, according to the league’s website. Pasadena American Little League Challenger games are played on Saturdays, with home games at Hamilton Field 1 in Pasadena, according to PALL’s Challenger FAQ. Families interested in Sierra Madre Little League’s Challenger program or any of the San Gabriel Valley Challenger leagues can find information at their local Little League’s website, or can attend any Saturday game at Heasley Field beginning at 9 a.m.

“Sierra Madre Little League believes in community and culture over everything else. What makes our small-town special is our commitment to one another and creating a culture where kids feel supported,” said Cory Marquez, SMLL President. “Baseball is special and unique in Sierra Madre because Little League represents the values of our community — values of service and supporting one another.”