The local Lancaster Stormers softball team is heading to the biggest tournament in its history, and the Lancaster Bible College softball and baseball teams had the special privilege of being a small part of the journey.

UPDATE! The Lancaster Stormers advanced to the championship found on Sunday, Sept. 8, ultimately falling 13-6 to the Newmarket Challengers from Ontario, Canada. Coach Sleet shared that the athletes “played their hearts out and played for each other. They were truly a championship team. All the coaches are so proud of them–it will be a lifetime memory.” All of us at LBC are proud of you, Stormers!

The talented players on the Stormers squad are headed to the Special Olympics North America Softball Championship, set for Sept. 6-8, 2024, in Russellton, Pa., near Pittsburgh.

While the Stormers, which have been in existence for decades, have advanced to state tournaments in the past, they’ve never reached this level of play. At the upcoming tournament, they will take on teams from around the U.S., Mexico and Canada.

Lancaster Stormers Head Coach Paul Sleek pitches during the final practice leading up to the 2024 Special Olympics North America Softball Championship.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for this team,” said 2024 Lancaster County Special Olympics Softball coach Paul Sleek, whose son, Andrew—turning 37 on Saturday while at the tournament—has played for the Special Olympics softball team he was 8. “We’ve never been to a tournament beyond the state level.”

For the past several years, Lancaster Bible College has played a small role in that success, as the Stormers have practiced at the LBC Softball Field, typically for two hours each Tuesday evening from late March to early June. Sleek is appreciative of the partnership with LBC, not only because of the welcoming environment and beautiful field, but also because the location is convenient for players and their families who drive from Ephrata, New Holland and other locations throughout the county.

“This has been a great relationship with Lancaster Bible College,” Sleek said. “In the past, we’ve had a tough time finding a field, but we couldn’t be happier at LBC.”

Special Olympics “Team Lancaster” offers 13 sports in all, including volleyball, powerlifting, long distance walking, bowling, swimming, basketball, bocce and tennis. For the 2024 softball championships, more than 300 athletes will converge in western Pennsylvania, and the Stormers were one of three Keystone State teams to be invited.

Longtime Lancaster Stormers Head Coach Mark Intoccia passed the baton to Sleek for the 2024 season, but his pride in the team is still evident. “Our Lancaster County Special Olympics softball team did so well at Penn State for the Summer Games for Pennsylvania Special Olympics, winning the silver medal in their division, that the team was invited to participate in the North American Special Olympics Softball tournament,” Intoccia shared.

Intoccia’s son, John, was an active member of the Stormers team, hitting for the cycle—a single, double, triple and homerun in one game—at the 2019 state tournament, Sleek remembered. John passed away in the fall of 2022 at the age of 41.

Today’s players continue to carry the legacy of the team.

Leading up to the trip, the Stormers had a big-league practice on Labor Day at Clipper Magazine Stadium in downtown Lancaster, home of the other Lancaster Stormers, an independent professional baseball team. The professional Stormers changed their name from the Lancaster Barnstormers to the shortened “Stormers” to celebrate the franchise’s 20th year in 2024, but Sleek joked that his team had the name first. At the stadium on Monday, LBC softball and baseball student-athletes were on hand to assist with the practice and offer support.

Then on Tuesday evening, Sept. 3, the Stormers returned to their honorary home field at LBC for one last practice and a clinic with the Charger teams. The players engaged in infield and outfield drills as well as batting practice before some final high-fives, a team photo and Rita’s Italian Ice served by members of LBC’s softball team.

It was a busy couple of days leading up to the van ride to Pittsburgh on Thursday, Sept. 5, but Sleek said the Stormers are “80% excited and 20% nervous” for their North America Championship debut. Preliminary games are planned for Friday to determine the divisions, then the Stormers will play in multiple games on Saturday, with the finals on Sunday. Good luck Stormers from all of us at Charger Nation! 🥎

Keep up with the Lancaster Stormers progress at the Special Olympics tournament here at the 2024 “SONA Softball Results” page.

Check out a photo gallery from the Lancaster Stormer pre-tournament practice at LBC!