SPOKANE, Wash. – Children with mental or physical disabilities might typically be counted out of playing a sport.
With Bambino Buddy Ball – the sky is the limit.
The division with Spokane Indians Youth Baseball allows aspiring athletes with mental or physical challenges to suit up, grab a glove and swing for the fences.
The division is thriving in its 18th season and welcomed in a big crowd for opening day on Sunday. Leslie Sigrah is a main organizer of the Buddy Ball program. She said the commitment is an easy one that hits close to home.
“Both my kids have disabilities. My oldest son was diagnosed at six and they told me he’d never play sports and when I was growing up sports were a big part of my world,” said Sigrah. “So I just decided I was going to figure out a way for my kid to play sports.”
Not only did she give a platform for her children, but for families and kids all around the Inland Northwest.
Buddy Ball matches a ‘buddy’ with a player and lets the buddy help all throughout the game, teaching their athlete how to hold a glove, swing a bat and have great sportsmanship along the way.
This season, the division is hosting eight teams. At their peak, they’ve been at 14. That’s a number Leslie said she wants to get back to but always needs buddies to step up to the plate.
“We’ll take anybody that has a heart, some patience and a glove,” said Sigrah.
For more information on how to get involved, you can visit Bambino Buddy Ball’s website here.
COPYRIGHT 2025 BY KXLY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
