Nuxhall Miracle League season will open with its own parade

“It’s just my ongoing thought to create special experiences for our kids who normally only dream about these things,” said Kim Nuxhall, board chairman of the league that gives people with disabilities the chance to play baseball.

“Having been in the Findlay Market Parade for the past 10 years, I thought about giving that experience to these kids,” said Nuxhall, son of the late Reds Hall of Famer Joe Nuxhall.

RELATED: Miracle League gives opportunities for all to play ball

The first-time parade will have just as much fanfare as the Cincinnati Reds Opening Day parade, just on a smaller scale, he said.

The April 1 parade in Fairfield “just adds to the ambiance” at the Miracle League fields, said Fairfield Mayor Steve Miller.

“What they have down there is something very unique and very special,” he said. “This is something all the folks — the players, the community, everyone — is going to enjoy.”

Mike’s Car Wash is sponsoring the parade and will be partnering to help with other projects, such as the Joe Nuxhall Golf Outing.

“We love to give back to the community, especially nonprofits that help children,” said Bethany McAlister, Mike’s Car Wash director of marketing.

With all the support the business does with the Reds and the Reds Community Fund, “It’s a natural partner with the Miracle League.”

Mike’s Car Wash is a frequent contributor to the Greater Cincinnati community, including supporting the charity A Kid Again as it opens its new Eastgate location, and Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati on May 13 at all their car washes.

Plus it’s supporting a mission of the beloved Joe Nuxhall, McAlister said.

“Joe Nuxhall was such an icon in Cincinnati and anything we can do to help support the mission and vision of the community he grew up in certainly means a lot to us,” she said.

The parade will be led by two grand marshals — NFL Hall of Famer and former Bengal Anthony Munoz and Local 12 anchor Sheila Gray.

“I can’t think of two people who better represent what we do,” said Nuxhall. “These two just exemplify what we’re about.”

Miracle League games are played on Friday nights for adults and Saturday mornings for youth with disabilities.

The Miracle League’s adult softball league is administered by the Therapeutic Recreation for the Disabled Softball League. And the Saturday youth league is put on by the Great Miami Valley YMCA.

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