P.B. Buddy Ball celebrates 10 years, offers support system to families

To provide sports services at no cost to persons with mental and physical developmental disabilities by creating a support network for individuals, families and the community — that is the mission of P.B. Buddy Ball, which is nearing 11 years of service to Poplar Bluff kids, teenagers and adults.

Buddy Ball is a baseball league focused on area kids with disabilities and making sure their opportunities are on a figurative level playing field.

“These kids now have the same opportunity as others in our community,” said Buddy Ball President Alex Tinker.

Without the inspiration from Sonya Osborn, complemented by the brainstorming efforts of Tinker, Lisa Collins, Laurie Coleman and Lorie Busse, PB Buddy Ball wouldn’t have come to fruition.

“Sonya was a schoolteacher here and her husband was the pastor at The Bluff (Church), and in her hometown, they had a baseball program for kids with special needs. We all got together and thought we could do it for our community too,” Tinker said. “That is how it started.”

Fast forward 11 years and the program is thriving.

What commenced with one roster, which was comprised of 8–18 year olds, soon blossomed. And blossomed. And blossomed.

“We just started off with two little teams,” Tinker said. “Each year, it continued to grow.”

The plan to add more teams just so happened to coincide with the COVID outbreak, which tossed a wrench in the proverbial spokes.

“COVID kind of held that back a little,” Tinker said.

But, just as the youngsters kept plugging away at their opportunities, so did Tinker and her colleagues.

“We weren’t even sure if we would have a season that year,” she said. “Lanny [Corcimiglia] at the parks department has just been wonderful to work with. We have lots of plans for the future.”

While some of those plans are still under construction, details are being kept close to the vest, Tinker said with a chuckle.

But there still was something missing: the older generation.

The need to grow even more, as the children have done year in and year out, called for an adult league.

“This will be our third season, so three years ago, we added an older league,” Tinker said. “All of our players started aging out. We were growing so fast that we needed to add more teams, so since then, we now have six teams. Now it is 18 years old and beyond. One of our oldest players, I think he is 74,” Tinker said.

One problem still exists, though.

Said Tinker: “Our problem is we have enough people and players, but we don’t have enough ‘buddies’ and volunteers. That is the only thing holding us back from growing.”

Games are on Tuesdays from the last week of May through June for a five-game schedule, rain or shine.

“We have a big awards night every year. Each year, we have continued to grow and grow because of the community’s response to our program. We have been able to offer our kids top-of-the-line jerseys, parties and all of those things,” Tinker said.

Fighting back her authentic emotion when reflecting on the previous decade, Tinker said seeing the 8 year olds turn 18 has been a blessing.

“A lot of these grown-up kids, they never had an opportunity to play baseball at all. Since we have done it for 10 years now, they have had an entire childhood playing Buddy Ball. It is a fun thing for our community to be able to have that now, that the kids have the same opportunities as others in our community,” Tinker said.

Annual events include a pumpkin patch visit, a Valentine’s Day dance (plus another planned for this month), and a Christmas Party complete with Santa and the Grinch.

“We have grown from a baseball team to a community,” Tinker said. “The community between parents and players has just been so strong on the field, and it carries to off the field. It has been incredible.”

Those wanting to donate or volunteer can contact Buddy Ball online.

“On our Buddy Ball website, there is a spot [at the bottom] where they can sign up,” Tinker said. “That will be for during the season, but people come and help during all of our other events too. They can follow our Facebook page for upcoming [events]. If people want to sponsor, there is that opportunity on our website.”

The 2025 schedule is as follows: May 20 and 27, June 3, 10, 17. Times range from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Games are held at Whiteley Park or Poplar Bluff Middle School depending on the weather.