Special Needs Athlete Gets Starring Role on High School Team
Special Needs Athlete Gets Starring Role on High School Team
By Marc RaimondiSantana Carrillo is every bit as much of the Chaparral HS softball team as anyone else on the roster. That's how coach Donna Heddleston and
By Marc Raimondi
Santana Carrillo is every bit as much of the Chaparral HS softball team as anyone else on the roster. That's how coach Donna Heddleston and Carrillo's teammates want it and the opposing teams in their New Mexico league have obliged.
Carrillo, a special needs athlete, got major playing time last week in a game against Belen HS, according to a report from KRQE in Albuquerque.
Heddleston told the news station that the other teams in the league have been more than happy to let her compete as well.
"They let me pitch sometimes and hit and go on road trips with the girls," Carrillo told KRQE. "I like being on the team. They help me out, take care of me."
Carrillo, 16, plays some right field, but also pitches (after a game is over) and gets at-bats. Her signature move is sliding into home plate, which she did to huge cheers from the crowd in a recent game. Carrillo is at every practice every day and takes the game incredibly seriously, according to her mother.
"She really, really takes it to heart and she really, really enjoys every bit of it," Patricio Carrillo said. "She has fun with the girls. She's a part of the team, part of the family."
Heddleston encouraged Carrillo to play softball a few years ago. She played on the JV squad last year and made the varsity team this year. Carrillo has a page on MaxPreps much like every other member of the Chaparral roster.
"We wanted to make it fun for her and we wanted her to score and make it a fun experience for her," teammate Jayden Gandert said.
Carrillo's presence is not just for her. Hardly. The other players on the team get as much out of her being around than she does -- if not more.
"When I was little, I always dreamed of playing on varsity," said teammate Aislin.
Carrillo, "so I feel like to let her experience that is a really good thing for all of us to experience."
Santana Carrillo is every bit as much of the Chaparral HS softball team as anyone else on the roster. That's how coach Donna Heddleston and Carrillo's teammates want it and the opposing teams in their New Mexico league have obliged.
Carrillo, a special needs athlete, got major playing time last week in a game against Belen HS, according to a report from KRQE in Albuquerque.
Heddleston told the news station that the other teams in the league have been more than happy to let her compete as well.
"They let me pitch sometimes and hit and go on road trips with the girls," Carrillo told KRQE. "I like being on the team. They help me out, take care of me."
Carrillo, 16, plays some right field, but also pitches (after a game is over) and gets at-bats. Her signature move is sliding into home plate, which she did to huge cheers from the crowd in a recent game. Carrillo is at every practice every day and takes the game incredibly seriously, according to her mother."She really, really takes it to heart and she really, really enjoys every bit of it," Patricio Carrillo said. "She has fun with the girls. She's a part of the team, part of the family."
Heddleston encouraged Carrillo to play softball a few years ago. She played on the JV squad last year and made the varsity team this year. Carrillo has a page on MaxPreps much like every other member of the Chaparral roster.
"We wanted to make it fun for her and we wanted her to score and make it a fun experience for her," teammate Jayden Gandert said.
Carrillo's presence is not just for her. Hardly. The other players on the team get as much out of her being around than she does -- if not more.
"When I was little, I always dreamed of playing on varsity," said teammate Aislin.
Carrillo, "so I feel like to let her experience that is a really good thing for all of us to experience."