During a press conference at Field 7 1/2 in the Henry S. Parker Athletic Complex in Salisbury last Thursday, Maryland Gatorade Softball Player of the Year Ava Twilley gave a $1,000 grant to Challenger Little League to support Wicomico County’s adaptive baseball program for individuals with physical and intellectual challenges.

Wicomico County Department of Recreation, Parks and Tourism Director Steve Miller said the Challenger program, an adaptive baseball program for individuals with physical and intellectual challenges from Maryland District 8 (Wicomico, Worcester and Somerset counties), started a few years ago and gives kids of all ages and abilities opportunity to play baseball.

“A lot of times kids with special needs are on the wrong side of the fence,” said Miller. The league started with 30 players and now has over 100.

Miller said relationships are formed through a buddy system. That includes Mardela softball players who served as buddies for the players in the Challenger League.

Mardela softball coach Kory Shiles, whose team went undefeated last season and won its second state championship earlier this year, introduced Twilley, who was named MVP and Gatorade Player of the Year.

“This organization has meant a lot to me over the last few years,” said Twilley, who served as a buddy along with her teammates. “I’m so grateful that I get to give back to an organization that I appreciate.”

“I hope this helps and future Mardela players can continue to come out,” Twilley said. “It’s just amazing to see the smiles on their faces.”

Twilley said she wanted to give the donation to an organization involved with sports. She added that she hopes the money can help the program and encourage kids to play.

On Friday, she was off to college at Mississippi State where she will continue to play softball.

“I’m really looking forward to going to college, meeting my new teammates and starting classes,” said Twilley

“The Gatorade Player of the Year award highlights student-athletes who set an example both on and off the field,” said Cameron Pettigrew, Associate Marketing Manager for Gatorade Player of the Year. “The grants give these athletes a chance to donate to organizations like Challenger Little League that positively impacts the youth in their own communities.”

All 610 Gatorade State Player of the Year recipients are awarded a grant to donate to a social impact partner of their choice. Each Player of the Year can also submit a video about why their organization is deserving of one of 12 Spotlight Grants, which awards an additional $10,000 to the organization. To date, Player of the Year winners’ grants have totaled more than $6.4 million in grants to winners across more than 2,200 organizations.