The League Where Every Player is an All-Star

Good morning, and thank you for joining us.

Around the holidays, TRC Nexus likes to highlight North Carolina organizations making a meaningful difference in their communities. Last year, we emphasized the “spirit of giving” exhibited by the Charlotte Good Fellows Club and its work supporting local families in crisis.

This year, we’re spotlighting The Miracle League of the Triangle—an organization that brings joy, belonging, and opportunity to families of children and adults with disabilities.

A League Where Everyone Belongs

The Miracle League is a national nonprofit that empowers children and adults with disabilities to experience the thrill of playing baseball in an inclusive, fully supported environment. More than 350 Miracle League programs across North America serve 450,000 “All-Stars” between the ages of 5 and 99.

Here in the Triangle, the Miracle League of the Triangle (MLT) has been serving families since 2006 at three fully accessible, rubberized baseball fields:

• Andy’s Foundation Field in Cary
• Fred Smith Company Field in Raleigh
• Durham Bulls Miracle League Park in Downtown Durham

These fields are designed specifically for players with disabilities—flat, cushioned, and barrier-free—ensuring safe, smooth mobility for wheelchairs, walkers, and other assistive devices. Bases are flush, the surface is even, and every detail is built to remove potential obstacles for the players.

Baseball, Reimagined

Miracle League games are designed to be joyful, inclusive, and pressure-free to create moments families never forget. For many players, this is the only environment where they can participate in a team sport without barriers, fear, or judgment. Parents routinely share stories of their children smiling wider, standing taller, and discovering confidence they’ve never shown in any other setting. Siblings cheer from the stands, grandparents bring signs, and volunteers celebrate every small victory as if it were a walk-off home run.

Many families describe Miracle League Saturdays as the highlight of their week—a time when the world slows down, the stress of diagnoses or school challenges fades away, and every child is treated like an All-Star. It’s common to see players who rarely speak light up when they hear their walk-up song, or players who use mobility devices gain independence as they round the bases with a buddy by their side.

As Executive Director Benjy Capps puts it: “For our players and families, Miracle League days aren’t just about baseball — they’re about belonging. You can see it in the players’ faces when their name is announced, when the crowd cheers, or when they cross home plate. Families tell us over and over that these are the moments they cherish most, because their player is seen, celebrated, and included in every possible way.”

This impact ripples far beyond the two innings played each week. Parents connect, volunteers return season after season, and entire communities learn what true inclusivity looks like: joy, support, and dignity for every person on the field.

Summer Pease, a Miracle League volunteer and current TRC intern, describes the transformation she sees each week. Pease said, “It’s amazing to see kids who have never played baseball—or never participated in any team sport—leave with a huge smile on their face after a Miracle League game.”

For many families, this is the first time their child has ever been able to participate in organized sports. The result is emotional, powerful, and often life-changing.

Pease adds, “For me, the best part is seeing the parents’ faces when their child gets a hit. Their joy is so evident because they’ve never really seen their child play sports like a typical kid.”

A Community Effort Across North Carolina

North Carolina is home to several Miracle League chapters—each powered by partnerships with local governments, civic groups, universities, and businesses:

• Charlotte: Partnered with the YMCA of Greater Charlotte, serving about 100 participants weekly.
• High Point: Launched in 2009 with city officials and local business support; backed by sponsors like D.H. Griffin Companies.
• Johnston County: Operates on an accessible turf field built with help from State Farm Insurance, Riverside Savings Bank, and others.
• Wilmington: Serves more than 150 players, partnering with UNC Wilmington to run its programs.

The Triangle chapter is similarly supported by regional partners, including WithersRavenel, the Durham Bulls, Preston Development, Smith Anderson, and many more. Duke University contributed $120,000 toward the most recent field project in Downtown Durham.

These relationships allow thousands of All-Stars across North Carolina to experience baseball, friendship, and community on and off the field.

As Capps describes the impact of The Miracle League – “It’s a baseball game, but it’s also a vehicle that provides joy to our players and families.”

That joy resonates far beyond the boundaries of the field. It builds lifelong friendships, strengthens families, reduces isolation, and creates moments of pride that many parents never thought possible.

It is a model of North Carolina’s business and civic communities coming together, investing in something that truly transforms lives.

Want to Get Involved?

The Miracle League of the Triangle is always looking for volunteers, business partners, and community advocates who want to make a difference.

To learn more, contact Executive Director Benjy Capps at: bcapps@mltriangle.com