Community Corner

Ability Beyond Disability Brings Home State Gold Medal

Information provided by Bob Rogers.

This past  Saturday, Bethel’s own Ability Beyond Disability (ABD) Destroyers took the Connecticut Special Olympics State Championship in softball. It was the team's first gold medal state championship for a team that prides itself in friendship and teamwork.

Several teams are built around dominant players, but ABD won this year with everyone on the roster playing their very best and a team support that picks up every clutch hit or catch. Above all, the joy and friendship that spreads from the dugout to the stands is what really makes this team a true champion.

Starting game one in North Branford at 8 a.m. was challenging alone, but the Destroyers jumped on the Farmington Valley team early with an eight run second inning to collect a 16-3 victory. Little did the team know that this was team to beat for the championship, as they would eventually meet for the gold medal with the Farmington team posting wins like 29-2 against the other divisional teams.

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The Destroyers took their second game against a strong Manchester team and faced a very tough Hartford team needing a victory to make it to the championship. The Hartford game was well played by both sides at the excellent softball facilities at the Connecticut Sports Complex and the Destroyers pulled out a 13-6 victory.

In the gold medal game, the Farmington team was feeling confident coming off a huge offensive outburst and the Destroyers coach, Bethel’s Jeff Beekman, knew it was important to get off to a strong start.

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In true ABD style, the team responded with their signature relaxed, fun loving outburst of offensive hits led by their incredible 64 year old leadoff batter who has an amazing unlimited source of screaming line drives to right field in his bat. Taking an early 14-3 lead, the team found themselves having to hold off the Farmington power surge to secure a 14-9 victory with the game ending bases loaded final out and their way to the gold medal podium for the first time.


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