Sept. 7, 2000

Columbia, Mo. - The University of Missouri softball team gets rolling this Sunday when they host the second annual Wheelchair Softball Demonstration and Clinic in the Hearnes Center East Parking Lot.

On September 10 from 11:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., MU softball players will integrate with wheelchair softball teams from Kansas City and St. Louis to demonstrate how people with disabilities are able to participate in sports and active recreation. Due to the nature of the sport, a softball diamond will be measured and drawn on the concrete to accommodate the wheelchairs.

"We are really looking forward to hosting the wheelchair softball clinic for a second year," said Jay Miller, MU head softball coach. "We've had a great response from both the St. Louis and Kansas City Wheelchair Committees. As this is our second year, we are also looking forward to increased participation from Columbia wheelchair athletes."

The softball team participated in the inaugural wheelchair softball clinic last year alongside several other notable MU staff members including Gene McArtor, senior associate director of athletics and Ed Stewart, assistant director of athletics for academic services.

The Rolling Rams of St. Louis are in their eleventh season of wheelchair softball, and the experience seems to be paying off. They have qualified for eight of the last eleven national tournaments, where they were national champions in 1997 and came in third last year. The "Rolling Rams" name originated 50 years ago as the title for the first St. Louis Wheelchair Basketball team. It has remained the title for all St. Louis Wheelchair Athletic Association sports teams.

Admission is free, and the public is encouraged to come out and support these athletes.

Sponsors for the softball clinic include MU Parks, Recreation, and Tourism, the City of Columbia Parks and Recreation, Theraputic Recreation Extension, MU Student Recreation Services, and MU Disability Services.