Friendswood ISD students who played an exhibition game at the Little League World Olympics in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania recently was honored with a Celebration of Excellence Award at the September 13 meeting of the Friendswood ISD School Board.
          The Challenger team from FISD was one of two teams invited from across the nation.
          The FISD team consisted of  Anna Griffith, Molly Hart, Cristopher Martinez, Ben Theriault, and Danny Vazquez from Friendswood High School, Jake Randal from Friendswood Junior High and Ashlee Reuter from Cline Elementary.
          The team was also accompanied by FHS students known as Best Buddies. These are students that team up with the Special Education students and the two learn from one another all school year. The regular ed buddies work well with the special education students and lifelong friendships are made. Seven buddies joined their friends in South Williamsport.
          The seven include Marley and Meranda Goodwin, Troy Griffith, Collin Oswald, Ariana Randal, Chase Reuter, and Tommy Stuart.
            During a Challenger game, coaches  do not keep score; everyone bats and everyone scores.
“The Friendswood Mustangs Challenger team played a team from New Jersey.  Both teams did really well, but if you ask our coaches, we made more outs than the other team.   We do make outs, but the runner doesn't have to leave the field, mom Tami Griffith said. 
             Their game consisted of 2 innings.  Before the game each player and buddy were  presented a medal.  During the game each time a player came up to bat the announcer would say their name and some information on each child (like who is their favorite baseball team, player, position, what is their favorite food, tv show, etc).  The crowd there to watch the teams play was approximately 2000 people. 
               After the game, both teams shook hands, had a team picture and then got to shake hands with the little league teams from Mexico, Canada, Germany and Latin America.  After the game, the Challenger kids and their families where treated to lunch.  The kids had the opportunity to tour the Little League Museum, watch the International and American play off games and some even got to stay and go to the Little League World Series on Sunday.
          Friendswood Challenger was organized by Tom and Mandy Goodwin seven years ago, to give children with a disability the chance to play baseball and to build the child's self esteem.  It has also become a support group for parents.  Friendships have been developed on and off the field. 
          Friendswood Challenger Baseball is a division of Friendswood Little League. 
          Since the start of Challenger Baseball Tom and Mandy Goodwin have started a local soccer team for children with a disability, called Topp Soccer.