Bill Text: IL HR0580 | 2013-2014 | 98th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Congratulates the Woodstock Challenger Little League team for participating in the Little League Baseball World Series Challenger Exhibition Game.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2013-10-22 - Resolution Adopted [HR0580 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2013-HR0580-Introduced.html

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HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Little League Baseball and Softball is the world's
largest organized youth sports program, with nearly 2.6 million
players and one million adult volunteers in every state in the
nation and many other countries; the Little League Challenger
Division is Little League's adaptive baseball programs for boys
and girls with physical and developmental challenges; and
WHEREAS, The Little League Baseball World Series
Challenger Exhibition Game has been a part of the Little League
Baseball World Series schedule since 2001; boys and girls ages
4-18, or up to age 22 if still enrolled in a school program,
with a physical or developmental challenge participate in the
Challenger Division program; and
WHEREAS, Flexibility and adaptability are key during
Challenger games; the innings are shortened and last about an
hour, while all players play defensively and receive a chance
to bat every inning; the players have "buddies" that are
individuals who assist Challenger athletes in the areas of
batting, base running, and defense as needed; often, buddies
are peer athletes who are participating in the Little League
Baseball or Softball program; and
WHEREAS, There are currently over 900 Challenger programs

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in 10 countries around the world; over 30,000 athletes
participate in the Challenger Division; 40 to 50 programs apply
to play during the Little League Baseball World Series every
year; the Little League's staff review stories from each
aspirant and select two teams that are exemplary; and
WHEREAS, Illinois District 13 from the Chicago area and
California District 57 from the San Francisco area were
selected to represent more than 30,000 Challenger players and
more than 900 leagues worldwide; the Illinois District 13
Challenger Division, founded in 1994, has 165 players and 14
teams from the combination of the Bartlett, Tri-Cities, and
Woodstock Little Leagues in the Greater Chicago area; and
WHEREAS, On August 24, 2013 at Volunteer Stadium in South
Williamsport, Pennsylvania, the Little League Challenger
Division played its 13th consecutive exhibition game; Illinois
District 13 experienced the trip of a lifetime; the teams
exchanged gift bags between players and their "buddies" and
each player received a baseball autographed by ESPN baseball
analysts; most importantly, the teams also received publicity,
which results in a positive outcome; and
WHEREAS, Every batter recorded a hit, reached base safely,
and scored a run; the two teams successfully finished the game -
a game in which no player is concerned about the score;

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therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
we congratulate the Woodstock Challenger Little League team for
participating in the Little League Baseball World Series
Challenger Exhibition Game; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
presented to the Woodstock Challenger Little League team.