The United Spinal Mets, a Division II wheelchair softball team co-sponsored by the New York Mets and United Spinal Association, hosted the 5th Annual Major League Wheelchair Softball Tournament this past weekend at the Shea Stadium parking lot. First place went to defending champs, RIC Cubs, co-sponsored by the Chicago Cubs and the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, who battled the NEPVA Red Sox, co-sponsored by the Boston Red Sox and the New England Paralyzed Veterans Association for the first place spot during the last game of the weekend.

“The tournament was great!” exclaimed 27-year old Dino Ramirez, third baseman for the RIC Cubs. “This was my second time in New York playing in the tournament and after playing wheelchair softball for three years, on Friday I hit my very first, second and third homerun. Even though this is not the Nationals it is the best tournament of the year and it felt great to be able to represent the Chicago Cubs with my team. I have three kids, but for those twenty minutes on the field on Friday, I felt like a little kid again.”

Although the United Spinal Mets and the United Spinal Yankees (co-sponsored by the New York Yankees) both fell short of top spots at this year’s tournament they still played with enthusiasm and passion. “I never thought I would ever be able to play a sport again after I got hurt,” said 22-year old United Spinal Yankee in-fielder Rodolfo Guevara who was injured two-years ago from a gun shot accident. “Wheelchair softball is fun and keeps me active. I love being a part of a team and competing in this tournament, everyone is so competitive.”

The tournament featured seven Major League Baseball-affiliated wheelchair softball teams. The teams included the first place winners, the RIC Cubs; the second place NEPVA Red Sox; in third place were the Vaughn PVA White Sox, co-sponsored by the Chicago White Sox and the Vaughn PVA; the fourth place winners were the Tampa Bay Devil Rays Wheelchair Softball team, co-sponsored by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays; in fifth place were the Magee Phillies, co-sponsored by the Philadelphia Phillies and Magee Rehabilitation; and rounding out the last two spots were the United Spinal Mets in sixth place; and the United Spinal Yankees in seventh place.

The tournament also provided an opportunity for the team members to share their expertise with future wheelchair athletes during a “Kid’s Clinic” held on Friday that drew 130 New York City public school students with disabilities to Shea to learn how to play softball. “It was most of the students’ first opportunity to see a wheelchair sport in action,” said Patrick Donaghey, Program Manager of Sports and Recreation at United Spinal Association. “These students have a variety of physical disabilities and we are always happy to teach them that they, too, can be active and play competitive sports.”

Wheelchair softball is similar to slow-pitch softball, but with several exceptions designed to accommodate wheelchair users. Most people with lower extremity impairments that prevent them from playing able-bodied softball are eligible for wheelchair softball, particularly persons with a spinal cord injury (SCI), amputation, multiple sclerosis or polio.