Saint Louis Challenger Baseball is a baseball league for youngsters and adults with developmental disabilities. In its 17th season, the league now houses 46 teams total, including 16 teams in St. Louis, two teams in Pike County, MO, two teams in Franklin County, MO, two teams at Ranken Jordan Pediatric Specialties Hospital, 16 teams in the St. Louis City school district, six teams in Madison County, IL, and two teams in Farmington, MO. The St. Louis Challenger Division season runs from the last Saturday in April to the last Saturday in June. The Madison County, IL Division season runs from the last Saturday in April to the last Saturday in June. The Farmington Challenger Division seasons run from the first Saturday in May to the last Saturday in June. The Pike County Challenger Division runs from the first Sunday in May through the middle of July. The Ranken Jordan Challenger Division season runs from September 18th through the last Saturday in October. The Franklin County Challenger Division runs from the first Sunday in September to last Sunday in October.

The fundamental goal of Challenger Baseball is to give everyone a chance to play. To realize that goal, Challenger has two basic rules: every player bats each inning, and every player plays the field. We don't count strikes, and we don't count outs. Everybody scores, and everybody wins.

Challenger Baseball participants learn not only the fundamentals of baseball, but also experience pulling together as a team, be cheered on by a crowd, and being encouraged by their peers. All players are named all-stars, and all receive trophies at the end-of-the-season picnic.

How it Works
Beyond following basic safety rules, Challenger tailors certain rules to the skill levels of the players. Challenger players play on the same fields, use the same equipment, and wear the same full uniforms as non-disabled teams.

Teams are supported by coaches and by a buddy system in which young volunteers (ages 10 to 20) that don't have a disability assist Challenger players when needed both at bat and in the field. Buddies help by pushing players using wheelchairs around the base paths after a hit or by helping a player retrieve a ball that gets past them. But the biggest thing a buddy does is to be a friend to our players.

Each week, teams play alternate teams within their skill level. All teams play next to each other, on attached fields. Players can either hit from a batting tee or off a pitcher.