One of the most heartbreaking aspects of a disabled childhood is the inability to fully participate in classic childhood activities, sports in particular. Pee Wee kids across the country not only forge friendships that can last a lifetime, but also learn valuable teamwork skills at a young age. Fortunately, Little League baseball has been enjoyed by kids regardless of so-called physical or mental limitations thanks to the Challenger program, founded in 1989. Challenger levels the playing field, open to all youth who are mentally or physically challenged. Though Challenger is a division of Little League, not all participants are little, with any individual under the age of 22 invited to participate, as long as the player is still enrolled in high school.Teams are divided by abilities rather than age brackets, recognizing that certain players may not be able to perform at the same level due to varying conditions. Challenger offers t-ball, coach pitch and player pitch formats, even combinations of the 3, catering to each team. While a Challenger division player will suit up in the same uniform, safety equipment and shoulder patches as any other Little Leaguer, games are usually not conducted following the same rules as other divisions of little league. There is more than one way to end an inning as 3 outs can at times be tough to come by. A half-inning is also over after each player has had a chance to bad or a predetermined number of runs cross the plate. Most Challenger games do not keep score, rather playing for the experience and love of the game. Read on …