Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
During May 11’s season finale for the Eustace Angel League, Hope Ridgle (center) is escorted around the bases by Eustace Police Sergeant Johnny Pitman and Eustace High School cheerleader Landrie Baker. 

Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Eustace Angel League organizer Cortney Hyde pitches to her son, Kooper, during the May 11 season finale.

Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Eustace Angel Leaguer Jaxton Chestnut bats May 11 with direction by Eustace ISD Police Chief Wade Morton.

Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Alex Swasso plays second base May 11 under the guidance of Eustace Police Officer Amy Hillhouse Thomas.

Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Eustace Police Chief Dan Huckabee (right) spends time with Logan Dougan, who’s held by Eustace High School cheerleading captain Chloe Gore.

Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Eustace Angel Leaguer Lauren Ruth proceeds past volunteers after receiving a medal with the team after the May 11 game.

EUSTACE–A six-game season filled with smiles came to a close May 11 as the Eustace Angels played their final game for its first term.
Eustace’s Angel League is a baseball team for children (boys and girls ages 5-19) who have a disability that keeps them from playing on a regular league team, according to team organizer Cortney Hyde.
According to Hyde, each game Eustace Angel League has special buddies who are hosted to help these players, such as Eustace varsity softball girls, Eustace varsity baseball boys, Eustace ISD staff, among others.
“We meet up and split them into two groups, they are then paired with a buddy to help them on the field, batting and running bases,” Hyde says. “One group takes the field while the other group lines up to bat; once all the players in the batting group bat, the two groups then switch places. Each player has the chance to bat twice and play the field twice. No score is kept, each player is able to go to each base and make it home.”
Eustace Angel League currently does not play other school districts, but does plan to do so in the future, Hyde says, with the coach for the Mabank Angel League inviting Eustace to play against them next year. 
Hyde continues, “For me, the Angel League started in Forney. I have a friend whose son played there and told me about it, so we would travel from Eustace to Forney on Saturday mornings so that my special needs bonus stepson could play. Later, one of the moms from the team started a team in Mabank so that she did not have to travel as far and could include more children in the lake area. After a couple of seasons, my son wanted to take a break, so we did. He decided he wanted to play again, so my husband and I went to the EBSA (Eustace Baseball/Softball Association) commissioner and asked if we could start a team here in Eustace this year. We were able to get sponsors to help cover the cost of shirts and hats for the players, we are able to use the Eustace fields, also we have been able to use the Eustace High School multipurpose room (an indoor gym with turf).”
Remarks Hyde, “Having a son with a disability has led me to want to make him and other children happy. To see the smile on their faces when they hit the ball and make it home brings so much joy to my heart and a smile on my face. I believe each of these children deserve to have the opportunity to be part of a team and play a sport. I have had the opportunity to see children in wheelchairs, with walkers and even a blind child play this sport, and nothing will make your heart happier than to see how happy they are. This Angel team has so many supporters, and with the help of our community, it has been very successful this year.”
Hyde gives a big thanks to her husband, Bucky, for his support, as well as to JD and Jamie Oldham and EBSA, as well as to Eustace High School for using their facility (when rained out) and to the Eustace Angel League sponsors for their donations, “and to each of our buddies that have come out to help and support these special baseball players,” Hyde adds.