Fox Lane’s Best Buddies Wiffle Ball Game Brings Students with Different Abilities Together

Fox Lane’s second annual Best Buddies Wiffle Ball Game took place last week—but it was so much more than a game. Yes, the varsity baseball team was there playing alongside Best Buddies club members from the middle and high schools. Yes, there were Wiffle balls hit, bases run and celebrations at the plate. But the teams cared very little about the score and much more about the experience of enthusiastic inclusion, as students with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities played together and rooted each other on.

“Being part of the swim team and the track and field team, I know first-hand the type of bonding teams can have,” club president Sasha Rapoport said. “Being able to open that up to the buddies is so wonderful. I love how welcoming the baseball players are. In my opinion, they have one of the strongest bonds out of all our varsity sports teams, and their willingness to share those parts of themselves is truly inspiring.” 

Logan Mammola, a member of both the baseball team and Best Buddies, loves the difference he has seen the club make on the school community.

“The cool thing is that this club is creating a mindset and culture within our school and community that is inclusive,” he said. “There are activities and friends for everyone.” 

The game itself was an uplifting thing to watch. There were people in the stands and the sidelines holding up personalized signs and cheering the students on. School and district administrators were there as well— Amy Fishkin, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, even threw out the first pitch.

But the best part was the students. There were ecstatic fist pumps when balls were hit, excited sprints to the bases and a group of varsity baseball players along the first base line, exuberantly clapping and cheering on their peers.

“It makes me happy as a senior to see that the club has grown so much and so many of my teammates and peers have become a part of it,” Logan said. “Best Buddies gives you an opportunity to see life and people from a different perspective. It teaches you ways to connect with people you might not typically connect with and learn from. It’s a club, but really it should be what you do every day—just treat people kindly and include them.” 

The club has meant so much to Logan that he wrote his college essay about it and last year’s Wiffle ball game.

“I would not have thought that someone who is non-verbal could express their emotions as clearly as so many of the buddies do,” he wrote. “However, Jack’s smile as he rounded the bases was a clear expression of joy. Jonathan, another buddy, may have had trouble making contact with the ball at the plate, but his fist in the air while wearing the Championship Chain was a clear demonstration of pride and accomplishment.”

Logan went on to write about how the experience shifted his perspective.

“My experience, not only during this game, but throughout the year, made me realize how fortunate I am and how little I must adapt in everyday life compared to other students,” he wrote. “That’s not to say my struggles are insignificant, but rather just different. Just like Jack probably assumed I could whip together some Legos (which I definitely cannot), I took for granted that he and the other Buddies would just get up to the plate and know what to do. I had to learn how to communicate the process step-by-step. Eventually, everyone was able to take part and feel the excitement and experience how rewarding the game of baseball can be.”

Sasha noted the importance of perspective shifts like that.

“Being able to bridge the gap and just open the minds of Fox Lane’s students is truly what the purpose of this club is,” she said.

Sasha, who wanted to take a step out of the spotlight as president this year and instead focus on modelling what a good buddy should be, pointed to another school experience that allowed her to watch that shift in real time.

She talked about going to the in-school Pioneer team game during Neurodiversity Week and how great it was to see so much support for the players. But one conversation really stuck out in her mind.

She was sitting next to someone she had never spoken to before when he asked what was going on during halftime. Some of the helpers on the other team were making a basketball hoop with their arms for one of the players to shoot into.

“He asked, ‘Why is she doing that, isn’t it unfair? What about the score?’” Sasha said. “And I told him, ‘She can’t reach the net so they’re including her in the game. Imagine if you were sitting on the bench, a part of a team, but never touched the court. They’re just doing all they can to include her.’ Seeing his face immediately change and then watching him start cheering for her felt like such a success.”

High school Best Buddies advisor Nicole Goldstein-Regan says moments like that are what make the club so special.

“Best Buddies is student-run and the students have a passion for inclusion,” she said. “We are always looking for people to get involved. We want Best Buddies to be part of the fabric of BCSD.”

The work the club has done so far and events like the Wiffle ball game have taken that hope and made a real difference.

“BCSD has amazing kids, and we got to see them shine!” said Director of Special Education Dr. Toni Ann Carey. “It was great to have our middle school chapter join the fun this year. Without the leadership of Nikki Regan and Dana Signorile, our Best Buddies advisors, this would not be possible. I’m so grateful for their vision, passion and hard work. Special thanks to the athletics department for their continued collaboration and support.”