Beyond the Byline: Victory Sports still making memories

Life is filled with moments — good and sometimes not so good, but the good ones can be so darn good sometimes.

Back in 2013, Brandon Harvey was playing third base — an unusual position for a left-hander — in a Victory Sports game at the Forty Fort Little League Field.

Harvey, of Plymouth, has Down syndrome.

Well, Jimmy Bonchonsky was at the plate and he hit a pop fly.

Harvey settled under the ball and — he caught it.

Meanwhile, Bonchonsky stood on first base celebrating his “hit.”

Before baseball “experts” attempt to clear this up — just know that this was a very unusual play in a very unusual baseball league where a group of exceptional athletes compete.

It was the Victory Sports “Game of the Week” — which could be considered the World Series for these participants.

While Harvey’s catch was remarkable — league officials could not recall anyone ever actually recording an out — every play of every game is special to the players, their parents, volunteers and fans. And the outcomes — measured unscientifically by the parents and caregivers — are always astounding.

Yes, Brandon Harvey did catch the ball — but Jimmy Bonchonsky was safe at first.

This is the essence of Victory Sports.

Victory Sports will begin its 14th season next week and many more memories will again be made that will last a lifetime.

Victory Sports is a program my parents would love to attend games to cheer for these adults with mental and/or physical challenges. My mom and dad each had a disability that never slowed either of them down. That’s why they would enjoy watching the Victory participants not only play sports, but enjoy the game we all love.

Back in 1991, Fred DeSanto and I organized a group to form Challenger Little League — we were the second Challenger Little League in Pennsylvania — Williamsport, naturally, was the first.

And 20 years later, one of the best memories happened when we held a Challenger Little League “Old-Timers Game” — bringing back many of our original Challenger players who had “aged-out” of the program when they turned 19.

About 30-plus participants from the early years of Challenger, showed up to play. One of those players, Eddie Orlosky of Duryea, asked a question: “How come we can’t play baseball anymore just because we got older?”

Given my family history, Eddie’s question stunned me because I immediately wondered why we hadn’t recognized the need.

Well, this was April and by August 2011, we had formed Victory Sports for adults and here in 2024, the program is flourishing with baseball, basketball, dances, social events, bicycling, field trips and more. The social skills of these young men and women have improved and parents and caregivers continue to sing the praises of the Victory Sports program.

At that Old-Timers Game in 2011, Andy Ashby, former pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies and other MLB teams, met Christina Capitano, one of the original Challenger players.

During a Challenger game in 1991 at what is now PNC Field, Capitano walked over to Ashby and asked for his autograph. Ashby complied and the wide-eyed Capitano, then 10, asked a question: “Why should I want your autograph?”

Ashby told her he played for the Phillies, to which Capitano responded: “You do? So do I.”

Do you see the simplistic charm in that?

That’s what Victory Sports is all about. Everybody is on the same team. Every game ends in a tie and nobody ever gets out.

There have been hundreds of great moments in Victory Sports — like when Brandon Harvey caught the ball. A close second memory was when A.J. Warakomski hit the ball — a home run on the very first pitch ever thrown in a Victory game.

A.J. Warakomski’s home run as not an inside-the-park homer — it was a real home run — over the fence — by a mile.

It was remarkable because the ball used in Challenger and Victory is a softer baseball that is more difficult to hit far. But A.J. Warakomski defied the odds that day.

And then there was the time Joey Hoffman sang the national anthem. Joey liked to sing, but only at home. When he came to a Victory game one day, Joey questioned why we hadn’t played the National Anthem. I told him we didn’t have the music and I apologized. Joey then said he would sing it — in front of a nice crowd. It was remarkable.

From that day, Joey always sang the National Anthem before every Victory game and event. He even sang it at a RailRiders game and was given a standing ovation. And he sang it at the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts.

Like I said — memories.

Whether they have Down syndrome, or muscular dystrophy or multiple sclerosis, or Autism, Victory participants aren’t gifted with the same coordination or agility that other athletes possess. But the effort and enthusiasm are there — and always at 100%.

Victory Sports is about improving the quality of life for participants by just offering them the chance to have some fun and play games and socialize.

And that goal is achieved every time they get together.

Same goes for everyone involved.