Challenger Baseball

When you belong, you believe

The 2025 season of Challenger Baseball has officially wrapped up!

This beloved summer program, offered by Niagara Children's Centre in partnership with the Jays Care Foundation, welcomed more than 100 children and youth for another exciting season of fun, inclusion, and friendship.

Challenger Baseball is a grassroots, non-competitive adaptation of the traditional sport designed for athletes of all abilities. Through fully adaptable drills and friendly games, participants enjoyed a safe and supportive environment where they could build skills and confidence. True to the Centre’s commitment to the F-Words for Child Development, the program emphasized fun, friends, family, and fitness every step of the way.

Children and youth aged three and up—living with a range of physical, developmental, and communicative delays—participated in the season, which ran from Monday, May 26 to July 28 at Lancaster Park in St. Catharines.

Volunteers made it possible!

The Centre was proud to welcome volunteers from across the Niagara community to support athletes each week. Volunteers assisted with various aspects of the game, helping create an inclusive and encouraging atmosphere.  

Volunteers interested in joining us next season must be a minimum of 16 years of age and those over the age of 18 must complete a vulnerable sector check at their own expense. For more information and to register, please visit the Centre's volunteer webpage.

Want to join us next season?

Stay tuned for updates in Spring 2026! Questions about the program can be directed to Stephanie Hicks, Recreation Therapist, at stephanie.hicks@niagarachildrenscentre.com or 905-688-3550 Ext. 127.

Our trading cards are back!

As we celebrate the 2025 season with our Challenger Baseball athletes, we wanted to do something special to commemorate the summer. We created our very own trading cards to make our players feel like true members of the Blue Jays team.

Check out this year's heritage-themed collection below.