How does it come to be that Cranberry's newest park will sport among its numerous playing fields a special one for special kids: the first Miracle League ballfield in the Pittsburgh region?

Michael Sherry's eyes moistened and in a thick voice he explained: "The good Lord gives you experiences. You can use them, or not."

Three unrelated personal experiences have come together for Mr. Sherry to lead him to the effort that would bring Cranberry a ballfield with no boundaries, a field of dreams, a -- dare he say it? -- miracle field.

1) He had a first-hand opportunity to view a Miracle League field in use in Georgia. Paired with nondisabled buddies, Miracle League team members are children who have various disabilities. He was enlightened.

2) As coach for his 7-year-old son's ball team, he was recently asked by another coach to allow a player unable to hit a pitched baseball to hit off the tee that's used in the lower-level T-ball league. Though he and the other coaches in the league were willing to make the exception for the little boy, Mr. Sherry wondered why there wasn't a place where exceptions are the rule. He was inspired.

3) His own 3-year-old daughter has recently been diagnosed with autism. He doesn't know whether she'll need special exceptions should she ever share her older brother's love of baseball. He was heartbroken.

Mr. Sherry's trio of coincidental experiences ignited determination. He recently approached Cranberry officials and worked out a deal that involves the township setting aside space in the new Graham Park for development of a Miracle League field. Cranberry Supervisors voted Sept. 6 to dedicate the space and to proceed with engineering changes to the park that would accommodate the playing area.

The next step is for Mr. Sherry, president of the Miracle League of Southwestern Pennsylvania, to raise $300,000 and a host of volunteers to make his part of the project happen.

The local branch of the Miracle League will be considered a division of the Cranberry Township Athletic Association, the entity that oversees youth baseball and softball in the township.

When not in use as a Miracle League field, it will be used for T-ball, as originally designed in the Graham Park master plan.

Miracle League baseball provides children with all ranges of disabilities a chance to experience playing the sport in a league-based environment.

Games are weekly, and team members probably will be drawn from the counties contiguous to Butler County, Mr. Sherry said, though no boundaries will be drawn. "We'll take kids from Ohio if they want to make the drive,'' he said.

The first Miracle League field opened in Conyers, Ga. in 2000. Since then, 80 other fields have been built, the closest opening this summer in Altoona. Among the key components of the field is that it is smaller than a traditional field, it has a rubberized surface, and bases are flush with the surface of the field.

More information on the Miracle League can be viewed at www.miracleleague.com.

Mr. Sherry can be reached at 724-831-7392.

He hopes the field will be ready for play in spring 2009.