Ballajura Lions honour couple for setting up children’s baseball league in northern suburbs

The driving force behind baseball for children with intellectual and physical challenges in the northern suburbs has been honoured with an award.

Barbara and Matt Callaghan today received a Lions Exemplary Award from Ballajura Lions for starting the Perth North Metros Challenger Division.

Ballajura Lions’ Jill Middlemass presented the Callaghans with the award – much to their surprise and delight – in front of 100 people at the wind-up games for this season at the Wanneroo Giants Ball Park.

They started the league three seasons ago after searching for an applicable sport for their son Cam (12) who has an intellectual challenge and who loved watching his older siblings play softball (Jessica) and baseball (Aaron) to a high level.

In Challenger baseball, each child – from the age of 4 to 18 – is partnered with a buddy.

Baseball Australia endorsed the award for the Callaghans.

Matt’s dream is to take children to the Little League World Series in the US where the Challenger Division put on an exhibition game.