Adapted PE Sports League Softball Tournament a hit

The San Dieguito Union School District’s adapted PE sports league held its annual softball tournament at Earl Warren Middle School on Nov. 10. The adapted PE program gets students with challenges active in sports and allows them to have a friendly competition against each other in seasonal softball and basketball tournaments.

At day, all of the students involved are awarded a medal.

About 80 players hit the field this year from Carmel Valley Middle School, Earl Warren and La Costa Canyon, Oak Crest and Torrey Pines.

Kasey Galik, the adapted PE specialist for Earl Warren and Carmel Valley Middle Schools and the 2009-2010 San Dieguito district’s “Teacher of the Year,” heads up the tournament every year.

“The day was inspirational, energetic and fun,”Galik said. “The APE students were the stars of the day.”

Galik helped start the Buddies program at the schools, a club that forms relationships with general education students and students with challenges. The Buddies were all out at the games last week, cheering on their friends and also helping them run bases or play the field.

Every player had a chance to hit, many breaking into smiles as they ran the baselines. At the end of the games, the players went through a tunnel of Buddies to receive their medals from Torrey Pines cheerleaders. Teammates also signed big, florescent softballs so the kids could have a souvenir from the special day.