Special Olympics competition comes to Springfield

SPRINGFIELD, Ore. — The community came together at the Special Olympics Softball Competition in Springfield. 

Sunday was a day full of cheering and smiles at the Les Schwab Sports Park in Springfield. The athletes out on the field, like Malakai Cleland and Colton Lockwood, said they would not want to be anywhere else.

“It means everything to me. It just so much — how things have changed — and how people can get together, and being together is just being awesome, and our team over here is awesome,” Cleland said. 

Malakai Cleland said he has been part of Special Olympics Oregon for 12 years.

He says it has changed his life growing up in Newport. He remembers a time where there were not as many opportunities for people with disabilities, but Special Olympics gave them a platform to show off their skills. It is an experience that Cleland does not take for granted, as he plays hard for his team.

“I had a really cool play. I juked someone, and I made the base — second base — which is awesome,” Cleland said.

The atmosphere at the tournament was infectious for athletes and spectators alike. Athletes said that the friendships and bonds made on the field are unbreakable.

Softball also is not the only sport Special Olympics Oregon holds competitions for. Athletes said they can not wait for the other games, later down the road.

“Definitely will be playing basketball next season, and we’ll be playing football. Just any Special Olympics event that I’m invited to, I’ll definitely show up and help my team,” Lockwood said.

A major part of the event’s success is in the volunteer support. Gabs Baker has been volunteering with Special Olympics Oregon since she was in high school. She said she believes in its ability to bring a community together.

“I think that a lot of people here are lifelong friends, and so I think that’s one of the most beautiful parts of our community,” she said.

Inclusivity is the driving force behind Special Olympics Oregon. Athletes are grateful for the platform to show off all they are capable of. Organizers said these competitions shows communities across the state and across the country the importance of lifting up people of all abilities.

“Special Olympics creates this avenue for people to stand up and say ‘Okay, I’m participating in this. I’m choosing inclusion.’ And hopefully, we’ll see that across Oregon and across our country,” she said.

Special Olympics Organizers said volunteers are the backbone of what they do, and they are always looking for more. They said they need help now more than ever, as volunteers are in short supply.

“If you’re going to go somewhere for the first time and try something new, it’s definitely the most inviting space. We train everybody on what to do. You’re not going to go in blind,” she said.

Organizers said there are plenty of volunteer opportunities coming up, whether it is the Special Olympics summer state games next month in Corvallis or the “Unified Athletics” sports in local schools, where teams of students with disabilities participate alongside partners without disabilities.

Julio Mora Rodriguez joined the KEZI 9 News team in October of 2022 as a news reporter. If you have any story ideas, you can email Julio at jrodriguez@kezi.com.