{"id":11507,"date":"2025-02-28T14:15:43","date_gmt":"2025-02-28T19:15:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/floridanewsline.com\/Clone2\/?p=11507"},"modified":"2025-02-28T14:15:47","modified_gmt":"2025-02-28T19:15:47","slug":"field-of-dreams-celebrates-15th-opening-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/floridanewsline.com\/Clone2\/creekline-st-johns\/field-of-dreams-celebrates-15th-opening-day\/","title":{"rendered":"Field of Dreams celebrates 15th opening day"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Martie Thompson
editor@floridanewsline.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saturday, Jan. 18 was the 15th opening day for Field of Dreams, a league where children with special needs (intellectual or physical disabilities) have the opportunity to play baseball in an organized league. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe weather that week was touch and go,\u201d said George Vancore, co-founder and lead umpire. \u201cBut when we got to the field, we had sun and blue skies. We couldn\u2019t have asked for anything better.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opening day is always a celebration. After the presentation of the colors by the Knights of Columbus and the playing of the National Anthem, all the teams show up and play one inning each. Vancore said that representatives from the St. Johns County Sheriff\u2019s Office were in attendance, as well as elected officials like County Commissioner Christian Whitehurst and School Board Member Beverly Slough who, according to Vancore, has never missed an opening day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Field of Dreams, children with special needs of all ages have the opportunity to wear a uniform, have their names announced, and be a player on an athletic team. Everyone bats. Volunteer buddies, at least one per special needs player, help with batting and rounding the bases. Some buddies are members of area youth or high school athletic teams who volunteer year after year. Opening day buddies, also marking their 15th year of participation, were students from the Bartram Trail High School softball and baseball teams. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vancore stressed that the Field of Dreams exists due to the many unpaid volunteers who perform administrative duties, serve as umpires and buddies on game day, and work in the concession tent. Everything is free at Field of Dreams, including registration and hot dogs on game day, but donations are accepted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNothing happens by magic; we don\u2019t just show up,\u201d Vancore said. \u201cThis league happens because of the dedicated and focused individuals who volunteer their time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year, there are approximately 250 kids comprising 14 teams. Most of the volunteer coaches are ESE teachers and some are parents. The season lasts from mid-January until the first weekend of May and registration is ongoing (online at www.fodbaseball.com).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vancore said that on opening day, a special announcement was made by representatives from St. Johns County Parks and Recreation: county funding will be provided to build a full concession stand as well as four ADA-certified restrooms and additional parking at Field of Dreams. Ground is anticipated to be broken in mid-May with completion by the end of the year. The Field of Dreams league will outfit the concession stand, including a freezer, cooler, and icemaker, with donations from the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI always say that \u2018Special things happen between the white lines,\u2019\u201d Vancore said. \u201cBut look at what we\u2019ve done over the past 15 years beyond those white lines \u2014 the Field of Dreams playground as well as the community spirit. We\u2019re so proud of this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visit www.fodbaseball.com for more information about Field of Dreams or to register your special needs child for baseball.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Photo courtesy Jaclyn Conatser\u00a0
Field of Dreams player with buddies from Bartram Trail High School<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Martie Thompsoneditor@floridanewsline.com Saturday, Jan. 18 was the 15th opening day for Field of Dreams, a league where children with special needs (intellectual or physical disabilities) have the opportunity to play baseball in an organized league.  \u201cThe weather that week was touch and go,\u201d said George Vancore, co-founder and lead umpire. \u201cBut when we got […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":11468,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-11507","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-creekline-st-johns"},"yoast_head":"\nField of Dreams celebrates 15th opening day - Florida NewsLine<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"CreekLine By Martie Thompsoneditor@floridanewsline.com Saturday, Jan. 18 was the 15th opening day for Field of Dreams, a league where children with special needs\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/floridanewsline.com\/Clone2\/creekline-st-johns\/field-of-dreams-celebrates-15th-opening-day\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Field of Dreams celebrates 15th opening day - 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