Medina County resident to help put on baseball camp for people with Down syndrome

GUILFORD TWP. — Ohio Pitbulls Baseball will be holding a baseball and softball camp this month for people with Down syndrome to give them a new experience and an outlet to express themselves. Ryan Lanigan runs Ohio Pitbulls Baseball and Lady Pitbulls Fastpitch, which are youth teams. He is a father of four and is relocating his family to Guilford Township. For the past two years he has wanted to put on an event like this because he was inspired by those around him. Before his 2-year-old daughter was born, he found out that she has Down syndrome, and his cousin's son also has Down syndrome. "There's not a whole lot out there for people like that," he said. "We wanted to put together a camp with myself and my coaches and some of our older players in our program that all want to help out, run a camp to give back and have some fun." The plan for the event is to break it down into age groups, he said. Participants can range from 5 years old to 18 and older. The first hour of the camp will be instructional where players rotate the stations to learn the basics of the sport. The second hour will be a game where everyone gets the chance to hit, play a position and run the bases. Lanigan's main goal for this program is for participants to enjoy themselves. "We want them to try to learn a little bit more about the game, but mainly we just want to get people out there having fun," he said. This event is in partnership with GiGi's Playhouse and The Down Syndrome Association of Northeast Ohio. Both organizations are designed to assist and advocate for people who have Down syndrome and their families. The camps will take place Aug. 27 at Bohlken Park on 3885 W. 210th St. in Fairview Park. To register visit bit.ly/3oVRwMk; registration will close Aug. 24. "We want to bring awareness to the fact that people with Down syndrome and other special needs can participate in events (like this) too," Lanigan said. Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.