The LNGS "Champs" Division is for special needs girls who are physically and mentally challenged. This division is open to girls aged 10-21 years (approximately). The Champs play on Saturday mornings at the Laguna Niguel Girls Softball Complex at Niguel Hills Middle School.
The program emphasizes a fun and safe environment with the assistance of the girls from our 12u & 14u under Division teams on a rotating basis. If you have never seen the Champs play, come out and enjoy a game and we are sure that you will agree that these girls can play some ball.
To sign up for the "Champs" division or just learn more about it please email our "Champs" representative Doug Mansfield at dougmansfield@cox.net or call him at (949) 495-3878.
Come out and watch the Champs play. We are sure it will touch your heart.
•Started in Spring of 2001 by Bruce Sanborn. Bruce started the program with some other families of challenged young girls that played in the ‘co-ed’ little league program called ‘challengers’. Many of the girls got intimidated as the boys got bigger and stronger so Bruce wanted to provide an alternative girls only option. Laguna Niguel Girls Softball embraced the idea and supported the idea. Bruce worked with ASA in the early years trying to grow the program.
•The name CHAMPS has meaning – the ‘CH’ stands for challenged – the ‘M’ is mentally – and the ‘P’ is physically. …. So the division is for young girls CHAllenged Mentally and Physically.
•The dream is to have several ASA district represented with a CHAMPS team. The teams from different districts could all play each other.
•The goal is to provide an opportunity for the girls to play softball and have fun at their individual ability.
Champs Program Info:
•The program is currently run by Coach Doug Mansfield. Doug has been coaching the team since 2007.
•Coach Mansfield sees it as a great way to use softball as a way to bring kids of all abilities and their families together for a fun and inspiring day.
•The format is simple – each week we pair our CHAMPS girls with one of the mainstream teams from our 12 and Under divisions or 14 and Under divisions. Each Champs player selects a buddy from the mainstream team to play with them for the game. We play a semi-competitive game for about an hour and a half and work on individual accomplishments each week. The program attempts to use as little adult help as possible – we let the kids play.
•Our season corresponds each year with the LNGS softball spring season.
•We encourage other ASA districts to form teams to play us.
•Our team is open to any girl/family in South Orange County – we have girls from several cities including Santa Margarita, Mission Viejo, and Laguna Niguel.
•We are always looking to add girls to our team.
•The girls range from 8 yrs to mid 20’s.
•Many of the girls are from the original team and still continue to play every year.
•Anyone interested can contact the league for more information.
Here’s some more information on our CHAMPS - Download: OC Register Champs article.pdf