Graniterock wins big while losing with Challenger baseball fun

Graniterock team members suited up once again in March for one of the most heartwarming events of the year: the Challenger Division baseball game at Veterans Memorial Park in Hollister.

The Little League Challenger Division is an adaptive baseball program for children and young adults with physical and intellectual disabilities.

Hollister’s Challenger team is part of a global network of more than 950 teams across the U.S. and nine other countries. Each season, they invite local businesses and organizations to step up to the plate for a very different kind of ballgame.

The rules for visiting teams are simple: bat with your non-dominant hand, lose the game and have as much fun as possible. And the Graniterock crew delivered on all counts, bringing laughter and memorable moments to the field.

Alex Lovell pulled off a classic prank by hiding a second baseball in his jersey and launching it into the outfield after hitting the first. JR Renteria tried to sneak his way to first with an army crawl but ended up at the bottom of a playful dog pile.

Carl Morello added to the chaos by stepping up to bat with four baseball bats, then sprinting through the outfield while using a Challenger buddy as a human shield to dodge the tag.

True to tradition, not a single Graniterock player made it to first base on the first try, and we proudly left the field with another entertaining loss.