Waukesha hosts Special Olympics Outdoor Sports Tourney

Waukesha plays host to Special Olympics state Outdoor Sports Tourney

WAUKESHA (WITI) -- Waukesha played host this weekend to the Special Olympics State Outdoor Sports Tournament.

Richie Hintz and his teammates with the New Berlin Bobcats softball team took the field in Waukesha this weekend. The team has a stellar record in its division, but this was the first time they had ever played a championship game.

For this game, they took on bitter rivals, the Manitowoc Miracles.

From the stands, no one was cheering louder than Richie's mother, Cheryl.

"When he first started playing - he wasn`t sure what to do. He didn`t know where to stand. Now he`s a great pitcher, and enjoys the game," Cheryl Hintz said.

Like all members of the team, Richie lives with a cognitive disability.

"If you went to a foreign country and no one - you couldn`t understand the language. That`s the world he`s lived in," Cheryl Hintz said.

"I have a lot of confidence in my team this year. I think we`re going to try to win gold," Kyle Grierson with the New Berlin Bobcats said.

Ultimately, the Bobcats fell to the Miracles 7-9, but that's okay.

"Every participant in Special Olympics gets a medal or ribbon for their efforts. It`s not about winning or losing. It`s about coming out here and trying your best," Special Olympics Director of Communication Christina Harris said.

For this team, the real reward is the journey -- finding something you excel at and letting it shine.

"I do my best. I've got a great arm for pitching," Richie Hintz said.

About 1,000 athletes participated in the event, which was held in Waukesha for the first time. For the last 20 years, the games have been held in Eau Claire.