Miracle Worker
Casey unifies through baseball
Sean Casey facilitates miracles.
Through his Miracle League of the South Hills, he was able to bridge the gap between arch rivals through the Border Battle held Aug. 24 at Boyce Mayview Park in Upper St. Clair.
Not only did Casey bring together a group of athletes from Casey’s Clubhouse and the South Hills of Pittsburgh to play baseball against a Miracle League travel team from Cincinnati, representing the Joe Nuxhall Foundation, he united Mt. Lebanon and Upper St. Clair.
Less than 12 hours after the Panthers defeated the Blue Devils, 42-22, in the first game of the high school football season, cheerleading squads from both schools as well as former athletes participated in the Pack the Park promotion for the day’s event.
The day started with a welcome line stretching from the entrance of the park to the playing field, opening ceremonies that included the national anthem, speeches and ceremonial first pitch, and, of course, baseball games on the hour.
“It took a long time, but after 20 years, we’ve found a way to co-exist here,” said David Hall with a hearty laugh.
A Mt. Lebanon High School graduate, Hall married USC alum Liz Whyte. The couple live in Upper St. Clair with their children, Katie, 24, who is in her first year of law school at Vanderbilt University; Lexi, 21, a senior at Bucknell University, and Buddy, 22, who was born with Down’s syndrome.
After the tough loss, even the Mt. Lebanon cheerleaders were again back in enemy territory. They joined in the celebration alongside members of the USC cheerleading squad as well as other USC athletic clubs.
“It was a tough loss at our house,” said Tracey Green. In addition to being the Lebo cheerleading moderator, she has a son, Jimmy, who is a standout running back on the football team.
Green noted her squad has “cheered” at Miracle League events in the past, but none have been as “big” as the Border Battle.
“It’s wonderful for the girls to be out here representing the community and our district,” Green said. “The girls loved it. You can see on their faces how they enjoyed it and had a good time. All rivalries aside, it’s all about community, and this was an amazing event.”
Green noted how exhilarating it was to watch the players compete and find their niche in the world through sports.
“To see these athletes putting themselves out there is very inspiring,” she said. “They just have a smile on their face. You see that they love it.”
Though she would be playing a soccer match later in the day, Maddie Webb was already at Boyce-Mayview Park by 8 a.m. to greet the charter buses filled with children and adults who would be playing for Cincinnati in the Border Battle. She said she decided to attend the optional event after reading an email that circulated among the USC athletic teams. “To support the community and welcome the kids,” she explained was her reasoning. “We love to give back to our community and support everyone because they support us.”
Because Webb also is part of USC’s Unified Bocce Team, she has empathy for special needs athletes.
“I think they are just as equal as everyone else and that they deserve every opportunity that everybody else does,” she said.
“They give a different perspective of life,” she added. “Nothing should be taken for granted because they make the most of everything they have. So everyone else should too.”
Casey certainly has made the most of his abilities. After helping USC win its first and only WPIAL baseball championship in 1992, he went on to excel at the University of Richmond before being drafted into Major League Baseball. The 50-year-old son of Joan and Jim Casey played for five teams, primarily the Cincinnati Reds from 1997 through 2008. Upon his retirement, he helped co-found the Miracle League of the South Hills. Just recently it added a travel portion to the program and teams have taken trips to Iowa to play on the famed “Field of Dreams” as well as to Cincinnati to compete against children and adults with special needs from the Joe Nuxhall Foundation.
“We believe that every kid deserves a chance to play, but we also believe that every kid deserves a chance to travel,” said Casey. “We have taken our organization to another level.”
The Aug. 24 event was held to reciprocate for the visit to Cincinnati in 2022, when some 2,000 people showed up to welcome the Pittsburgh team. So it was equally touching when Casey, riding the first bus to enter the South Hills complex, saw the massive crowd lining the entranceway and providing a bat salute for him to pass through before the opening ceremonies that kicked off a day of baseball.
With tears streaming down his face, Casey addressed the crowd. “I’m overwhelmed. This is next level,” he said. “The turnout of people here in Pittsburgh is incredible.
“These kids are incredible,” he said. “They mean everything. They have so much love and provide so much joy.
“We love to showcase our athletes, our kids. The biggest thing is inclusion. Our big thing, we look at our kids as athletes and wonderful human beings. There is not a ton of programming for the special needs community and we are encouraging getting more programming. We feel that when this place was established a miracle happened. A true miracle happened for this program again.”
Those in attendance agreed.
“This is absolutely incredible what Sean has created here,” said Mike McHugh.
A former high school teammate of Casey’s, McHugh played at Penn State and was drafted by the Texas Rangers. His son, Gavin, who has cerebral palsy, participated in the baseball games. McHugh recalled how his son demonstrated the same enthusiasm for the game as he had, setting out his uniform the night before the big game.
“He was so excited,” McHugh said. “Look at him looking around the field. It’s incredible, the joy.”
Gavin responded in amazement.
“I think ‘Case’ is great,” he said. “He built this whole field. Can you imagine building this whole field? He built it for me and my special friends.”
The athletes received the royal treatment. They entered the field with grandeur through an inflated arch with smoke billowing around them. They played walk-up songs for the batters and received a shower of bubbles upon crossing home plate.
“This is spectacular,” Hall said. “He added that the Miracle League has turned the community on its side and that Upper St. Clair is now the center of the Miracle League universe.
Hall’s son, Buddy, played in the games.
“What we have done here is not just create an opportunity for kids to play baseball. It’s actually bridging these kids into the broader communities,” Hall said.
“Too many of these kids get branded by their condition or disability. Programs like this make the broader world realize that there is a person behind that condition.”
“These kids have incredible personalities and characteristics. They have dreams. They have likes and dislikes,” he continued. “Without programs like this they wouldn’t get that opportunity. It has been an amazing journey we have been on for the better part of two decades.”
Mathew Richert has been on that trek. In 2000, his parents started a Challenger Baseball program in Baldwin because his brother had autism. Richert worked in that program as a buddy to an athlete. He started coaching in the Miracle League of the South Hills in 2014, four years after he graduated from Bethel Park High School, where he now teaches in the special education department.
“Amazing,” Richert said of the program and the Border Battle activities. “This is the best of America here.
“It’s wonderful and a great opportunity for these athletes. They can meaningfully contribute to their society and community through work. That’s special education. We teach them to live, learn and work in our community of choice with the maximum amount of independence possible.”
Gus Walz good for Miracle League community
David Hall of Upper St. Clair saw the social media post of Gus Walz tearfully and proudly shouting, “That’s my dad,” during the Democratic National Convention. Immediately he thought of his own son, Buddy, who has Down’s syndrome, as well as the Miracle League of South Hills, of which he is a member of its executive board.
“Any spotlight and attention is good. This especially because it’s making the broader world realize these are real people here,” Hall said. “They are not just tags. ADHD. Autism. Those are human beings. Those are family members; brothers, sisters; sons, daughters. We have to welcome them into every aspect of society as we would anyone else. That’s the best part.”
The bad part came later. Soon after the clip went viral there was backlash. For example, conservative media pundit Ann Coulter, 62, initially posted on X that Walz’s sobbing was “weird,” then deleted the tweet.
“That’s terrible,” said Tracey Green. The Mt. Lebanon High School cheerleading moderator added, “I wouldn’t even have a comment for people who would pick on special needs people.
Maddie Webb said she saw a few things about Walz and it was “nice to bring him to the forefront,” but it’s unfair that he is “getting bullied” now.
Webb plays on the Upper St. Clair soccer team. She also helps with the high school’s unified bocce team, which integrates special needs athletes with students without disabilities in a competitive environment.
Additionally, Webb had a cousin die of Mitochondrial Disease at age 17.
“There is a place in my heart for her,” said the 17-year-old senior. “She really made the most of her years on earth. (People with special needs) bring a lot of happiness to the world. So there really is no reason for the hate.”
While Hall said he has not seen bullying regarding his son, he said it impacts everybody.
“We all live those battles and journeys every day. That is part of life. That is where the broader community or the family unit come in,” he said. “We hope programs like the Miracle League will make the lesson (of bullying) less of a reality.
“We tell kids to always take the high road. Win the war, not the battle,” Hall continued. “The war is a lot longer than that one-time incident.”
Mike McHugh and his son, Gavin, always take the positive path.
An Upper St. Clair High School graduate, McHugh, like Hall, played baseball at Penn State University before being drafted by the Texas Rangers.
McHugh said Gavin is his “sidekick,” as they go everywhere together, including golfing. McHugh does the physical part while Gavin rides in the cart.
Gavin has cerebral palsy and uses devices to assist with walking. He is also legally blind.
“Gavin brings out the best in kids,” McHugh said. “When they wonder why he has canes or why people stare, we don’t judge them. We tell them they help him along and that he has cerebral palsy.”
Gavin has an ear for music and a gift for acting. He plays the piano, having learned the score for “Take Me Out To the Ball Game” because he and his dad were attending a Cubs contest.
Additionally, Gavin stars as Christopher Diaz in the ABC drama series “9-1-1.” He has performed in commercials as well.
“I think acting is great. Nothing to it,” Gavin said. “I love being there with my cast members and friends. I have great friends and don’t get bullied.”
Gavin had sound advice for those who choose that route.
“If someone came up to you and was not nice to you, I wouldn’t say I’d avoid them. I would just leave them alone. I may say, ‘How are you?’ or ‘What’s up?’ but not really talk to them. Bullying is wrong.”
The Miracle Leagues, including the one in the South Hills, as well as off-shoot programs like the Mighty Underdogs or Walk-on-Water are right for people with special needs.
“When we lived in California, we went surfing,” McHugh said. “Gavin and I would be there ready with surfboards and wetsuits. Instead of on a baseball field, it’s in the water.
“Until you have a child that needs extra care, you don’t realize what beautiful communities and people are out there,” McHugh added.