One clear message rose above the deafening cheers of support and celebration yesterday, sounded by Pittsburgh Pirates Chairman Bob Nutting as he surveyed the lineup of pint-sized players waiting to inaugurate the region's first Miracle League ballfield in Cranberry.

"It's your turn to play," he said.

And play they did.

In wheelchairs, with walkers, on crutches; led by "buddies" and encouraged by specially trained coaches, dozens of children with a range of disabilities showed their stuff as hundreds of onlookers clapped and cried.

"This is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen in my life," said Holly Recker of West View, mother of 10-year-old Luke Recker, who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair.

"He's always wanted to play ball. Now, he's finally getting his chance," she said.

The Pirates Charities Miracle League field opened yesterday as Cranberry cut the ribbon on its new $9.9 million, 188-acre Graham Park off Rochester Road. It has 13 athletic fields and three miles of walking trails.

While the opening of the park brought out hundreds for such observances as "Soccerfest," the highlight of the day was the opening pitch at the Miracle League field. A league of teams for special needs children between ages 5 and 18, its playing field is topped by a rubberized surface. Every player has a "buddy" and scores. No team loses.

Local league founder and President Mike Sherry praised partnerships for the project's success, noting that Pirates Charities gave $200,000, $50,000 of which was donated by player Freddie Sanchez and his wife, Alissa. Cranberry Community Uniting People, a local civic group, gave $25,000 and Mitsubishi Electric Power Products Foundation in the nearby Thornhill Industrial Park donated $25,000. The rest came from local Rotary clubs as well as a $600,000 state grant, for which Mr. Sherry credited state Sen. Jane Orie, R-McCandless.

More than 130 children are in the local Miracle League, including Abby McCormick, 9, of Robinson. Ball cap cocked on her pony-tailed head, glove tucked under her arm, Abby summed up the day's excitement: "For kids like me, this field for people with special needs gives us a chance to be like everyone else."

Her mom, Melissa McCormick, watched as the little girl, who has spina bifida, maneuvered with crutches through the crowd to reach her post at first base.

"Having the chance to play ball, to feel normal like her peers at school who play on teams, well, it's like the name says: It's a true Miracle League," she said.