A new baseball field for special needs children opened in late April at the Langham Creek YMCA.[/caption] Special needs children in the Cy-Fair area are getting ready to play ball. It has been two years since the Miracle League—a nonprofit that gives all children the chance to play baseball regardless of circumstance and ability—was introduced at the Langham Creek YMCA. What started out as a dream first envisioned by three local residents who wanted to give children a place to play has grown into a $2.4 million facility set to open March 28. Rodney Finke, Allan Wallace and Mack Hoehner first approached board members of the Langham Creek YMCA about starting a Miracle League chapter in 2013. "They told us to build a temporary field and we'll see how it goes," said Hoehner, who is also the Langham Creek YMCA chairman. "So we built the world's greatest T-ball field and have been playing on that for the past two years." But the trio had visions of something grander; they wanted to bring the Greater Houston area its first baseball field specifically designed for children with special needs. Referred to as an adaptive sports complex, design plans include using synthetic AstroTurf to make it easier and safer for children in wheelchairs and walkers to get around the bases. "We wanted this to be the crown jewel for sports for special needs kids," Hoehner said. "There are over 12,000 special needs kids [in the Greater Houston area] who have the opportunity to benefit from this field." With help from the Langham Creek YMCA and the YMCA of Greater Houston, the trio has worked tirelessly over the past two years to raise funds. To date, the fundraising campaign has raised a little more than $2.3 million of the estimated $2.4 million needed to build the facility. Site plans include a pavilion, special needs playground and two baseball fields. The league also recruits buddies—volunteers who sign up to be an individual player's friend throughout the game. Buddies help players with the bat, running bases, playing catch and also protect them while they are in the field, often developing friendships in the process. Through his work with the Miracle League, Hoehner said he realized special needs children are more similar to able-bodied children than most people realize. "They might not be able to do some things or they might think slightly differently, and because of this, they don't get the opportunity to experience things their siblings do," he said. "The Miracle League gives those kids the chance to play baseball in front of a screaming crowd to the best of their ability. You watch these kids get their hit and look around at the people cheering. What that does for their self-esteem is huge." Long-term plans involve continuing to develop the complex to include soccer, football and other programs designed for special-needs children, Hoehner said. "This is not going to go away," he said. "Every sport you can think of will be a part of it. This is the opportunity to build something great in our community." Approximately 300 children will be able to play in the league's first season on the new field. A gala fundraiser to help support the league is set for March 21 at the Pine Forest Country Club. More information can be found at www.facebook.com/MiracleLeagueHouston.