LUZERNE COUNTY, Pa. — It was time to step up and play ball on Monday at a field in Hanover Township where sixth graders faced off against the high school's life skills class in a friendly game of Wiffle ball.
"Combining all the students together and not excluding anyone. It's just amazing that the kids all get along. And for kids that don't see other kids with different abilities, they get to interact with them," said Kathy Healey, a PE instructor.
Rules and runs are secondary here.
"It's just all about having fun, enjoying outdoors, and making new friends. Isn't that what baseball is all really about?" asked junior Owen Bonham.
While most were focused on the fun
Administrators are focused on the making of new friends.
"It's important for the sixth graders to be able to see the high school kids next year in the hall and know they may have made some friends here. So now when they see them, and life skills kids, 'I have friends in seventh grade.' Last year, those sixth graders that are seventh graders, they get to interact every year. They'll just have new friends," Healey said.
Organizers hope this sportsmanship carries on to the next school year.
"It's very cool because I get to help out some of the other kids who don't get to do it as much. And so, it's very fun," said sixth grader Stella Styczen.