For the Blue Jays' Matthew Celardo, hitting a ball and rounding the bases with his buddy Riley Karns is the best part about playing in Madison's Challenger Division, a new baseball league for children with disabilities.

"He runs with me to each base," Celardo, 10, said of Karns. "He always helps good."

The division, run by the West Madison Little League, gives Celardo, who is autistic, and most of the 27 other players their first chance to hit a grounder or cross home plate. And buddies like Karns help them along the way.

It's been two years since a Little League for children with disabilities has been offered in the Madison area. Now the new Challenger Division is one of dozens of new Little League programs for disabled ballplayers being formed across the country.

In 2008, more than 27,000 players nationwide participated in the 1,852 Challenger Division programs, 42 more than the previous year, said Chris Downs, media manager for Little League International.

If you go:

What: West Madison Little League's Challenger Division teams have three games left.

When: Games start at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26 and Oct. 10 at the West Madison fields, 701 Forward Drive.

"It's something that actually has shown a great deal of growth since its inception" in 1989, he said of the Challenger Division.

Overall, Little League has 2.6 million players on 174,000 teams worldwide, he said.

In addition to being fun, baseball offers an opportunity for Challenger Division players to develop their social skills, said Bonnie Helt of Waunakee, whose son Jonathan plays on the Blue Jays.

Having the chance to play baseball like other children, "for some of these kids, that's all they want to do," she said.

"This is the first time that he's ever been able to play," Helt said.

It also lets the parents meet other parents of disabled children, she said.

Game has few modifications

Now two games into their inaugural season, the two Madison-area teams - the Blue Jays and the White Sox - take to the manicured Little League field on the city's West Side each Saturday at 11 a.m.

They'll play until the first week in October.

The game is played much like any other Little League game with a few modifications: Each team bats its entire lineup each inning, players can hit from a tee if they have trouble hitting a pitch, a softer ball is used, and the bases are flat so wheelchairs can roll over them.

The teams don't keep score.

"Honestly, it could bring a tear to your eye to see how much fun these kids are having," said John Lubarsky, a West Madison Little League board member who helped coordinate Madison's Challenger program. "Probably one of the best things of this year (has been) our commitment to the Challenger program."

Each player has a buddy - other softball players or Little Leaguers like Karns who help the Challenger players when they need a hand.

"I just like the smiles when they're running around the bases and stuff," Karns said.

Important experience

The Challenger Division this year is not the first program of its kind to be formed in Madison.

Kirsten Engel and Peggy Nied ran a similar program for seven years on the city's East Side, but they ended the program two years ago because of a lack of resources.

The two were on hand at the first game of the new Challenger Division to throw out the first pitch and also donated much of the specialized equipment.

Having the Challenger players on the same field and having much of the same experience as the traditional Little Leaguers is important, Engel said.

The Challenger Division is sponsored by First Business Bank. Easter Seals-Wisconsin and Madison West Kiwanis helped develop and market the program.

Joel Karns, Riley's dad who co-coaches the Blue Jays, said most of the children haven't played baseball before but "they learn very, very quickly."

"They were just hitting the ball so much better just after a few practice swings," he said.

Officials expect the league to continue and possibly grow, based on how the season has gone so far.

"The excitement level on the part of the Challenger players was just outstanding," said Bill Battista, West Madison's executive director. "I wouldn't be surprised next year to see it go up to four teams."