Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Salukis to host Unified Sports Softball Game
09/10/2019 | 10:51:00 | Softball
The hour-long contest begins at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 15.
CARBONDALE, Ill. — The Southern Illinois University softball team, in conjunction with Special Olympics Illinois, will host a Unified Sports slow-pitch softball game at 4 p.m. on Sunday, September 15 inside Charlotte West Stadium.
Unified Sports provides individuals with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to play on the same playing field with their peers. Unified Sports is an integral part of the Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools program, which was founded in 2008 as a way of promoting social inclusion through shared sports training and competition experiences.
"Jen Sewell and I have always wanted to partner with Special Olympics," head coach Kerri Blaylock said. "It started when one of our former players, Caylee Cook, worked for Special Olympics in Southern Illinois. We met with them and said we would like to be involved with hosting something like this and decided this weekend would be when we do it."
Special Olympics Region K serves the South Central portion of Illinois with local programming for over 1,600 athletes from 24 Southern Illinois counties. Region K offers participation in 16 sports and holds 24 competitions year-round.
Sunday's contest will run from 4-5 p.m., with the hopes of completing a seven inning game during that time frame. Select Saluki players as well as members of the John A. Logan softball team, will be divided up into teams along with Unified athletes from the JC Jets, Lightning Bolts, Lightning Bugs and Progress Port.
2019 All-MVC first team selection Jenny Jansen's sister, Jessica, will throw out the first pitch prior to Sunday's Unified game. Jessica, who is a passionate supporter of Saluki softball, has Down syndrome and is notorious for her colorful pre-game pep talks.
"Jenny Jansen's sister, Jessica, has Down syndrome and she gives us our pep talk before every game," Blaylock said. "Our student-athletes are very in-tune with the joy that Special Olympians feel when they get to be involved with collegiate athletes."
Sunday's festivities will kick off at Noon with the Salukis taking on Rend Lake College. Southern will then face off against John A. Logan at 2 p.m. before the Unified Game at 4 p.m.
