National Wheelchair Softball Champions - 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009

The Nebraska Barons won their forth national championship in the past six years at the annual National Wheelchair Softball Tournament held in Council Bluffs, Ia in August 2008.  There were four Barons voted to the all-tournament team, highlighted by Brent Rasmussen's selection as the championship tournament MVP (his third MVP selection) and his selection as all-tournament left fielder.   

Greg Suing was also honored as he was elected to the National Wheelchair Softball Association's (NWSA) Hall of Fame.  Greg has been chosen to the national all-tournament team on seven occasions, including tournament MVP in 2004.  Greg is the first Nebraska Baron that has been elected to the hall of fame.

For the past 10 years the Barons have competed in the NWSA against Major League Baseball sponsored teams from Chicago, Boston, Minneapolis, Cleveland, New York, Denver, and Tampa Bay.  While those teams have the advantages of funding and population the Barons have used a Midwestern formula of hard work, diligent preparation, all-out-effort, and teamwork to bring four recent National Championships to Nebraska. The Barons come from all walks of life and professional accomplishment including:  doctors, lawyers, professors, business professionals, computer programmers, former professional baseball players, production line workers, and even some unemployed.  Their disabilities include:  amputation, spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy, spinal bifida, and other birth defect and trauma injuries.

Junior Nebraska Barons 

The Jr. Barons finished as Jr. Division national champions at the 2008 & 2009 National Wheelchair Softball Tournaments.  Fourteen Jr. Barons' players represented the Barons in these competative national championship tournaments against competition from Chicago, Minneapolis, and Milwaukee.  This was the third year of playing wheelchair softball for the junior team. 

About the National Wheelchair Softball Association (NWSA) 

For over 30 years, the National Wheelchair Softball Association (NWSA) has promoted and developed the game of wheelchair softball for adults with disabilities.  Thousands of disabled athletes from across the country have benefited from the ability to participate in a game that is considered America's greatest pastime. These individuals needed to develop a way of playing without the full use of their legs that would allow easy maneuverability in a wheelchair and keep the fast pace of softball. Thus was born a new game played on hard surfaces, such as a parking lot, instead of the normal grassy infield, and a 16-inch softball, which allows wheelchair players to keep one hand one the wheelchair while catching a softball without a glove.

In 1976, the NWSA was founded and serves as the governing body for wheelchair softball in the United States. The game is played under the official rules of the 16-inch slow pitch softball as approved by the Amateur Softball Association of America with some exceptions geared toward the wheelchair user. Teams throughout America compete on a regular basis and hosts several tournaments throughout the summer. The NWSA hosts a national wheelchair softball tournament annually, which celebrated its 31st anniversary in St. Paul, Minnesota, this past August. Today, NWSA governs over 40 teams worldwide. Many teams have sought and found allegiance and sponsorship with their Major League Baseball (MLB) team counterparts, such as the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Colorado Rockies, Minnesota Twins, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, and Tampa Rays. All wear official MLB uniforms and compete with pride under their respective professional team's logo. 

NWSA also has a new division of wheelchair softball for children.  A junior division has been established by NWSA specifically to provide an opportunity for disabled youths to enjoy the thrills and experiences of America's pastime.  As a result of their disabilities many children are left out of experiencing the joys provided by competitive athletics. But just like their classmates in school who play in YMCA and other competitive leagues, disabled children should have the opportunity to experience and joys, sense of belonging to a team, health benefits, and all the life lessons provided by playing athletics.  NWSA is structuring a division especially for these children.

Wheelchair softball is an exciting and challenging summer sport that enables most wheelchair users to compete. To learn more about the NWSA, browse the website at:                               www.wheelchairsoftball.org