Father and son Toronto Blue Jays super fans, (L-R) Rolly and Bryce Desrochers, react to Alejandro Kirk’s fourth inning homer during Game 3 of the World Series, at their home in Orléans, a suburb of Ottawa. Bryce, who lives with cerebral palsy, founded the Miracle League of Ottawa with his parents to ensure all individuals can play ball.James Park/The Globe and Mail
As a child, Bryce Desrochers dreamt of playing his beloved baseball without additional barriers.
Born into a sports-loving family and dressed in Blue Jays threads from a young age, he was part of a recreational league in an Ottawa suburb. But navigating traditional dirt baseball diamonds was difficult in a wheelchair. Bryce, now 23, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at six months old.
”When I played in the league, second base got stuck under my chair,” he said. It slowed down his pursuit of third. “I literally was dragging second base.”
Bryce, now, 23, played sledge hockey for 12 years. But the family's love for baseball and their child buoyed their advocacy efforts for an inclusive field in the National Capital Region.Supplied
Advocates say making sport participation more inclusive is critical to the well-being of young people with complex health and emotional challenges. But obstacles remain, including a lack of accessible facilities. Bryce and his parents have fought to ensure all individuals can play ball by founding the Miracle League of Ottawa.
For the first two weeks after Bryce’s diagnosis, his father, Rolly, struggled emotionally. He felt angry. He had always imagined sharing his love of sports with his only son, and feared that would no longer be possible.
But after the initial grief subsided, Rolly embraced a different outlook. He and his wife, Michelle, began to think of ways Bryce could enjoy sports. “We just kept going,” he said.
Both father and son got into sledge hockey, designed for players with physical disabilities. “For 12 plus years he played hockey a different way, but it was hockey. And I got to be his coach, and that was fantastic,” Rolly said.
In the context of baseball, the family’s love of the game and for their child buoyed their advocacy efforts. “Baseball has been, and always will be, the sport that I love the most,” Rolly said. “It’s the team effort that it takes to win a game. It’s not an individual sport.“
From a commercial, Michelle learned about Miracle League, a network of more than 300 organizations that use customized fields to accommodate wheelchairs and other supportive devices for hundreds of thousands of children and adults.
She researched how the family could lobby for an inclusive field in the National Capital Region. A major fundraising push began in 2012, garnering community support and securing resources to build one. Part of the backing included $210,000 from the Jays Care Foundation, a charity organization run through the Toronto Blue Jays.
Mr. Desrochers says he still remembers beaming with pride when he first saw Bryce circle third base after the accessible field opened.Roger Lalonde/Supplied
On Aug. 14, 2015, the Miracle Field of Ottawa was unveiled in Navan, Ont., by then mayor Jim Watson, along with other members of city council.
It is wheelchair accessible, features wider entry gates and has a field made of a rubbery material rather than dirt. (The soft surface helps to cushion any child who falls.) In addition, there is a playground structure and a clubhouse with accessible washrooms and change rooms.
More than 100 participants are registered, and the league expects that number to grow, Rolly said, adding that children who navigate an array of physical and emotional challenges, including autism or sensory sensitivities, can take part.
His greatest joy is when families come to the field for the first time. He watches as parents tear up while they see their child play – something they never thought could be possible.
Rolly, who serves as the league’s president, still remembers beaming with pride when he first saw Bryce circle third base after the accessible field opened. His son’s smile that day could light up 1,000 fields, he said.
“The Miracle League is a place where, for the hour and a half, two hours that you’re out there to play your game, playing with your friends is a safe space. You forget about the world’s troubles.”
Bryce continues to play baseball with the Miracle League and helps out behind the scenes, including with social media content.
The college graduate has also gone on to become an elite level boccia player, making his debut at the Canadian championships in Ottawa last November. Often likened to lawn bowling and curling, the Paralympic sport sees players propel a leather ball toward a target called a jack.
Experiencing the Jays' World Series run with Bryce is a 'great feeling,' says Mr. Desrochers.Supplied
He also remains a loyal cheerleader for his father’s own sporting activities. When Rolly plays recreational slo-pitch, Bryce is on the sidelines with his signature enthusiasm, bellowing “Go Daddy, go!”
These days, both father and son are cheering on the Blue Jays in the World Series, alongside millions of Canadians.
It’s the first time in Bryce’s life the team has made it this far, since the Jays were last in the World Series in 1993.
“It’s a great feeling,” Rolly said. “It’s been a long 32 years.”
Whether his team wins or loses, he’s grateful to be able to experience this moment alongside his fellow superfan.
“It’s a great feeling to be able to share your passion with your son,” he said. “I can’t share it the same way as other parents. But with my son, we find other ways of sharing our love.”