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Pittsburgh Pirates CARE-A-Van Brings Holiday Cheer to Wheeling

Players spend afternoon at the YMCA

Photo by Scott McCloskey Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Chris Stewart, left, poses with Austin McCardle of Wheeling during a visit with the Miracle League of the Ohio Valley at the J.B. Chambers YMCA in Elm Grove Friday.

WHEELING — The Pirate Parrot appeared to be even more popular than Santa Claus as players and coaches from the Pittsburgh Pirates paid a special holiday visit to special youths in Wheeling Friday.

The Pirates Charities CARE-a-van joined members of the Miracle League of the Ohio Valley for a Christmas party at the J.B. Chambers YMCA in Elm Grove. Among those making the trip with the caravan were Pirates catcher Chris Stewart, pitchers Lisalverto Bonilla and Nick Kingham, bullpen coach Euclides Rojas and new third base coach Joey Cora.

Special needs children from around Ohio and Marshall counties were invited to attend. The athletes played basketball with the children and provided them with special encouragement when necessary. Some of the younger children even got a lift up to the basket from them so they could have the experience of dunking a basketball.

The Pirate Parrot and Santa Claus then joined the party. The athletes partnered up with the youths for a spoon-and-egg race, and the event concluded with lunch.

Stewart took special interest in one young man, Landyn Carlier, who sat on the gym floor just under one of the baskets — largely oblivious to the noise and activity happening around him. Stewart sat down on the floor next to Carlier, and began to shoot balls toward the basket, hoping to catch Carlier’s interest.

After some time, Carlier eventually responded by picking up a ball and throwing it toward the basket.

“It’s special,” Stewart said of being able to interact with the youths. “It’s not every day we get to get out in the community and interact with special needs athletes. It’s a special day for everyone involved.”

Stewart admitted he sometimes has difficulties staying focused on what is happening around him. Being a catcher helps keep him stay concentrated on the game, even though the job does take a physical toll, he said.

“It’s the most active and involved position,” he said. “I’m a little ADD (attention deficit disorder), and catching helps keep me focused. I would be out picking grass and chasing butterflies if I played in the outfield.”

Stewart sustained a left knee injury in the middle of last season, and underwent arthroscopic surgery in September. He said the surgery “went well,” and he expects to be back next season “at 100 percent.”

Lorraine McCardle, founder and coordinator of the Miracle League of the Ohio Valley, said the Pirates CARE-a-van visit provides a great experience for the special needs children, many of whom can’t travel to PNC Park to see the players in person.

“They really like seeing them … maybe even getting them to ask some questions,” she said. “(The athletes and coaches) are here to just have a good time with the kids, and that’s what is so awesome.”

McCardle’s son Austin said he was a Pirates fan, and that his favorite player is Andrew McCutchen.

Another special needs youth, Nathaniel Frohnapfel, also said McCutchen is his favorite player. His mother, Lynn Frohnapfel, said Nathaniel gets to go to PNC Park for games “a couple times each year.”

“It’s really an experience for him,” she said. “He loves baseball so much. To meet the players in person is amazing. He’ll remember this forever.”

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