On August 25, the members of the American Softball League played their last softball game for the summer. Forum Newsgroup photo by Natalia Kozikowska.
For David Osofsky, being able to play a sport he loves is a dream come true. There are countless softball leagues to join for a summer, but the options for adults like David, who has Downs syndrome, are much scarcer.
Luckily, The American Softball League, an organization for the developmentally challenged adults, helps those who suffer from mental disabilities channel their inner ball player once a week in a fun, noncompetitive social environment.
“I like playing left field, outfield and first base,” said Osofsky. And thanks to Howard Beach resident, Randy Novick, founder of The American Softball League, Osofsky has played all three positions this summer.
The American Softball League serves between 25 to 45 players each week, both men and women, ranging in age from 22 to 72. Every Saturday for the past two summers, Novick, his volunteers and his team gather at Kissena Corridor Park in Flushing for a weekly, three-hour softball game and, just as important, the chance to socialize.
“They all get up, they hit the ball and they make friends,” he said. “They feel the warmth. That’s something they don’t normally get to experience. They make friendships,” the coach added.
Novick said that The American Softball League was modeled after a league his friend founded in 1998.
“I had a friend who had a challenged kid who was in his twenties who wanted to play softball and had no place to
Randy Novick, left, hands David Osofsky, right, his participation trophy. Although Osofsky was injured and unable to play at the last game, he wanted to come out and show his teammates support. Forum Newsgroup photo by Natalia Kozikowska.
play,” he said. The boy’s father eventually founded the Achievers of America League and Novick wound up coaching the team for several years.
In 2010, his friend had retired and moved to Florida. Touched by his experience working with the disabled, the coach felt he needed to pick up right where they left off and founded the spin-off – The American Softball League.
“I get excitement out of it,” said Novick. “I feel good when I give back to the community. When I helped the first kid, my friend’s son, it just felt good. He appreciated it and they really enjoy being with you,” he added.
Volunteer coach, Jessy Pierre, said that helping out with the team gives her a chance to see the players
grow. “It allows me to see that they can advance in many other things – they can actually be involved in sports like other adults,” she said. “I like to see them achieve their goals,” she added.
Rachael Novick, Randy’s daughter, is another volunteer coach, who really appreciates and enjoys watching the players have fun out on the field. “It’s nice to see them get to enjoy something they wouldn’t normally get to do. They see people do this on TV and it brings them to the real world… it’s enjoyable to see them get closer to that experience,” she said.
Parents are especially thankful for their adult children to have a chance to meet goals and have a good time,
all while making friends. “He gets a chance to mingle with a lot of people and it gives him something to do instead of sitting home and doing nothing,” said Dorothy Osofsky,David’s mother. She said that her son is a huge fan of baseball and looks forward to the games every week. “I see how the players are so anxious to come and be here to play and that’s very important,” she added.
The American Softball League played their last game on Saturday, August 25, with each player receiving a participation trophy. While the team is taking a much needed rest during the off-season, Novick is already looking forward to next summer and potentially expanding his league to all five boroughs.
“The kids need something like this,” he said. “And I plan on doing this forever.”
By Natalia Kozikowska
