[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 147 (Wednesday, September 28, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1395]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          TRIBUTE FOR GRAND JUNCTION CHALLENGER BASEBALL TEAM

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                          HON. SCOTT R. TIPTON

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 28, 2016

  Mr. TIPTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Grand Junction 
Challenger baseball team on qualifying for the Little League World 
Series Championship game. The Challenger little league baseball team 
gives special needs children an opportunity to compete in baseball. The 
program started in 1989 with 12 kids who had a dream of playing 
baseball, and has turned into an entire league of kids with a passion 
for America's past time. Today there are more than 30,000 children 
participating in more than 900 leagues worldwide.
  This year the Challengers Little League World Series games will be 
broadcast on ESPN. They are one of eight teams from the Grand Junction 
area to qualify to compete, and will be the first Grand Junction 
Challengers team to play in this televised game. The whole community is 
proud of this Grand Junction team that rose to the challenge to take 
advantage of this wonderful opportunity.
  There is a natural competitiveness to the game, but these kids will 
take it a step further when they take the field, showcasing their 
baseball skills and demonstrating that anything is possible in life 
through perseverance and determination. I look forward to watching them 
fulfill their dreams of playing baseball in front of a large crowd 
cheering for them just as fans cheered for Ruth, DiMaggio, Mays, 
Robinson and Williams.

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