Sure, Colorado’s Major League Rockies may be mired in mediocrity this year, but this city’s other Rockies team – the Rollin’ Rockies Colorado Wheelchair Softball team – have lately been dominating the diamond.
The Rollin’ Rockies, founded in 1996 to provide Coloradoans with disabilities an accessible yet competitive way to get into the ballgame, recently finished up their season ranked 12th out of 85 wheelchair softball teams in the nation, and only one win away from making the national wheelchair softball tournament. Their success may be in part due to an influx of new players – disabled vets coming back from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. "We’re trying to get them off the couch before they grab a bottle and put it between their legs," says teammate Kevin Grinsinger, who joined the crew after serving in Afghanistan.
Now, for one last season hurrah, this Sunday, August 17, at 10 a.m. at the Scheafer Athletic Complex, 9750 West Hampton Avenue in Lakewood, the Rollin’ Rockies will take on the Air Force Academy softball team, who’ll be using wheelchairs for the showdown. Grinsinger encourages all those looking to watch a good ballgame – unlike, say, those transpiring at Coors Field as of late – to come enjoy the action: "We just like to beat up on the able bodies."
For more information, go to www.rollinrockies.com. -- Joel Warner
