Fairfield’s Challenger League opens registration for youth, adult teams

Jefferson County Little League has announced that registration is now open for the Challenger League, a baseball league for special needs youth and adults.

There is no cost to join or participate in the Challenge League, and residents can register at jeffersoncountylittleleague.com.

Janel Orgovanyi and Lisa Phillips are in charge of the league, and they announced that this year’s games will include adult teams after a hiatus of almost eight years. The league also offers “beeper ball” for the visually impaired.

“In the Youth Division, instead of playing against a team, we actually pair up Challenger athletes with a Major League athlete to play side-by-side,” Orgovanyi said. “Our goal is to foster inclusion and friendships. All games have an announcer, music and usually are the highlight of all Major League teams to play against. They are set up for fun!”

All games are played at the Jefferson County Little League fields on the east edge of Fairfield, and games typically last one or two innings. The youth team (ages 5-18) plays at 5 p.m. on Fridays, and the adult team plays at 6 p.m. Fridays.

Orgovanyi said Fairfield and Pekin baseball and softball teams participate in the exhibition games, and that’s something the Challenger League players really look forward to connecting with those athletes.

For more information, call Orgovanyi at 641-233-8295, or Phillips at 641-919-0114.