FOUNTAIN VALLEY : 400 Play Softball in Special Olympics

More than 400 county athletes competed Wednesday for top honors in the sixth annual Special Olympics softball competition at Mile Square Park.

Eighteen teams squared off, with the top scorers scheduled to attend the state finals in June at UCLA.

Starting in the morning, the athletes--teamed by age and ability--filled the Fountain Valley Recreation Center’s baseball fields at the park.

Madeline Evans, director of the Orange County Special Olympics, said the event is more than just fun for participants, it also boosts their confidence.

“The self-esteem is fantastic,” she said. “They now have something of their own, a ribbon or trophy to talk about at the dinner table.”

The event was co-sponsored by the Fountain Valley Community Services Department and the Rotary Club.

Carol Gibson of the Community Services Department said the softball tournament has grown into a communitywide event. Several local groups donate money to sponsor the tournament, including a business that provides umpires and city officials who help with coordination.

“A lot of cities do not offer programs for the disabled, so this is our contribution,” Gibson said. “The participants love it.”

The softball tournament was one of 22 Special Olympics events scheduled this year in the county.