Hard-Fought Softball

“I don’t want to play Orange County,” No. 24 of the North San Diego Bruins was saying to a teammate. “Orange County is good.”

The “Orange County” that No. 24 didn’t want to play is the team from Mitchell School in Santa Ana. And, of course, who should the Bruins end up playing but Mitchell in the Southern California Special Olympics Softball Championship.

“We’re going to get killed,” No. 24, Mark Kelly, said, just minutes before his team hit the field. “Maybe even shut out.”

Not quite. But close. Final score: Mitchell School, 18; North San Diego Bruins, 2.

The softball teams were two of 22 from Southern California participating in the first annual softball championship, held this year at the Fountain Valley Recreation Center. The two-day tournament, which ends today, is part of the second annual Fall Championship Series, in which nearly 2,000 Southern California Special Olympics athletes participate. Orange County has four teams competing.

Mentally retarded athletes are qualified to compete in the series, which consists of eight sports: bowling, cycling, running, power lifting, roller-skating, soccer, softball and volleyball.

The 313 athletes and their teams are grouped on the basis of ability--with Level A being the highest--allowing them to safely compete in events for the gold, silver and bronze medals.

Like all competitors, the players--boys and girls as young as 12, and men and women as old as 53--play to win. But they also keep in mind the Special Olympics Oath: “Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”

And have fun in the process. The athletes couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day. Before the games, a nervous few tossed balls back and forth. Mostly, they mingled, lounged under shaded trees, played touch football and had lunch.

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“This is a chance for [the athletes] to go out--away from home--to make friends as well as to compete,” said Dick Van Kirk, president and CEO of Southern California Special Olympics. “It’s an event where they can demonstrate just what they can do. . . . Many have competed for some time now so they know each other well.”

They certainly know the Mitchell School team.

“They’re good,” Joe Salame, 32, who plays outfielder for the Bruins, said of the Mitchell team. “They are so good. . . . Let me be brave in the attempt.”

He was, hitting a homer in the fourth inning.

The 10 players from Mitchell were gracious winners.

“A gold medal would be nice,” said Paul Hoffman, 38, of Fullerton, who in the first inning batted a runner in and stole a base before sauntering home. “But we’re just here to have a good time.”