Baseball Tournament Goes "Over the Line"
with Able-Bodied and Disabled Players
(NORTHRIDGE, Calif., Aug. 4, 2003) - Dodger and Angel fans may not recognize the game, but teams of disabled and able-bodied players will take on one of America's favorite pastimes during the 11th annual "Over the Line Tournament" at Cal State Northridge on Saturday, Aug. 23.
"Over the Line" is a form of baseball that has been developed for both able-bodied and disabled individuals.
There are a minimum of three players on each team and the field is much smaller than a regular baseball diamond and outfield. The game is played with everyone in wheelchairs. Teams are made up of quadriplegic and paraplegic players and limited to only one able-bodied player.
"It's a fabulous day because it's really not competitive," said Polly Schuster, a professor in CSUN's Department of Leisure Studies and Recreation and one of the event's organizers. "People can enter who don't necessarily have any sports skills. That's what makes it fun. People just come out and enjoy themselves."
The tournament will take place from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in CSUN's faculty/student parking lot G4 on the east side of the campus off Zelzah Street in Northridge.
"They won't be able to miss us," Schuster laughed. "They just have to look for all the wheelchairs."
For registration or additional information, call (818) 756-9757.
The event is co-sponsored by CSUN's Department of Leisure Studies and Recreation, the city of Los Angeles' Valley Therapeutic Recreation Center and Northridge Hospital Medical Center's Rehabilitation Services Department.