Written by Maddie Charnes

Cheering and laughter fill the baseball field as smells of burgers on the grill cloud the air. The athletes excitedly make their way to the diamond with smiles stretching across their faces as their loved ones watch from the stands.

The Miracle League of Chattanooga is an organization providing those with disabilities the unique opportunity to play the game of baseball and build connections while experiencing the thrill of competition.  

“The community needs to know that the Miracle League is out there, because there are people out there who need the Miracle League,” said Kim Chapman Whitfield, president and co-founder of the Miracle League of Chattanooga. 

“The Miracle League is joy,” Chapman Whitfield said. “The ‘Miracle’ part about it is getting to see those kids play and not feel inhibited, picked on, [or] bullied.”  

Originating in Atlanta and now consisting of 200 leagues in three different countries, the Miracle League is an organization open to people of all ages with any kind of disability. The Chattanooga league was formed in September of 2017.

“Miracle League is my heart,” Chapman Whitfield said.

Chapman Whitfield feels the league brings happiness to not only players but parents and families as well. It provides a sense of community because they’re surrounded by others who understand.

“I’ve seen athletes who have gone from shy and reserved to out-of-control excitement on the field,” Chapman Whitfield said. “The beauty of it is they can be themselves.”

Jordan Johnson is an athlete in Miracle League, and she has been participating in it for about two years. 

“Jordan is able to be social with people who are similar to her,” said Jenny Crawford, Jordan’s sister. “She’s in her element when she’s on that field.” 

The Miracle League has volunteers, also known as “Buddies,” that assist the athletes in any way they may need. The Buddies are organized through the YMCA, and they typically aid the athletes in getting from base to base while cheering them on. 

“There’s a lot of work that goes into each game,” said Mckayla Camper, the Miracle League coordinator. “We prepared all week for the game.”

Camper and the other volunteers work together to make the days as fun and stress-free as possible for everyone involved. 

“My favorite part of working with Miracle League is seeing how happy the players are,” Camper said. “They really look forward to this all week, so it’s exciting to see their smiling faces when they play.” 

The beauty of the Miracle League is the accessibility of it. Costing only $30 per athlete, with financial assistance available, the field is open for any player—regardless of age. 

“If you’ve never seen a game you don’t know what you’re missing,” Chapman Whitfield said. “It’s like one big happy family,”

Elizabeth Wynne sat down with Alex Tainch, the main announcer of the Miracle League to discuss the importance the league has on those involved beyond only the athletes.

---

Superstar Spirit

Written by Mason Edwards

Among the dozens of Miracle League batters calling their shots, hyping up the crowds and dancing their way to home plate, only grand slams could compete with the superstar catcher duo: Caleb Cochran, 18, and his service dog, Rey.

Whether behind home plate or in the outfield, the two caught every passing ball. The duo’s fielding percentage would smash those of the best Gold Glovers. As soon as Caleb let Rey’s leash fly, she knew to run after the balls and return them to him.

A two-year-old poodle and golden retriever mix, Rey serves as an essential part of Caleb’s impressive journey from a rare diagnosis to hard-earned success. When Caleb was four years old, his parents learned he has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a genetic condition that weakens his muscles–including his heart and lungs– over time. 

“It’s progressed [since then,] but I am doing much better than other kids that have it,” Caleb Cochran said. “Most of them can’t walk after a while.”

Despite the news, Caleb’s spirit never wavered and his doctors give good reports. Even though he’s in pain most of the time, he channels his energy into working harder than any of his peers– according to his father, Kenneth Cochran.

“He was reading Lord of the Rings when he was eight years old,” his father shared proudly. 

Caleb particularly excels academically, having completed dual enrollment classes while in high school. His mother, Shannon, said she’ll never forget watching her son walk across the stage to receive his diploma.

“It was just the best day ever,” Shannon Cochran said. “Everything is a little bit sweeter, a little bit more special, because somebody really, really had to struggle and work hard, and they conquered it.”

After graduating from Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School, Caleb is three courses away from completing his college education in computer forensics at Georgia Northwestern Technical College.

“I have an interview already,” Caleb Cochran shared. “Unum, the same [place] my dad works at.”

In his free time, Caleb’s interests and hobbies include a profound love for Legos, with an entire wall dedicated to Lego Star Wars creations. Watching nearly every movie and TV series, his passion for Star Wars extends to how he named his dog and can be heard on the field through his “The Mandalorian” walk-up song by Ludwig Göransson. Another love, video games, began with Lego Star Wars and evolved into a lifelong passion. 

“He’s really good at it,” Kenneth Cochran added. “He’s also into retro gaming. He likes collecting old game consoles and all the handhelds…”

Since age 7, Caleb has spent his spring and fall weekends playing baseball with the Miracle League, first in Florida and then later in Chattanooga. He remembers his introduction to the sport: watching a Pensacola Blue Wahoos game.

“I enjoy watching [baseball,]” he explained. “One time, there was a special event where they let someone with a disability throw the ball. I enjoyed that a lot.”

As Caleb loses more mobility each day, his service dog learns more ways to help his daily and recreational needs. She can pick up items off the floor, turn on light switches and open handicapped-accessible doors. Rey also provides deep pressure therapy to help with Caleb’s social anxiety.

“She’ll come and place her torso in his lap, and she does it on cue,” said Kenneth Cochran. “It’s a lifelong process… whatever Caleb needs going forward.”

For example, his father said that Caleb might need help with reaching his dresser drawers, and  if so, they could train Rey to pull ropes attached to the drawers’ handles.

“She helps me open doors, [and is] being trained to help me stand up if I have trouble and balance me,” Caleb said. “I often play catcher since my service dog is trained to catch the ball.”

Unlike other high-profile players, Rey stayed after the game’s final inning to receive head scratches and warm pets from both teams. A fitting end to a perfect game, the players lit up in happiness at a chance to get a special kind of autograph from the service dog: a happy, loving lick.

---

Meet the Storytellers