Community Corner
VIDEO: The Inspiration Behind 'Esther's Braves'
Special bond between the 97-year-old team sponsor, local Esther Stohl, and one little girl.
Sunday afternoon at in Minnetonka is a festive occasion.
"All these kids just love baseball," said baseball coach Terry Zurn.
Kids of all ages gather at the park to enjoy America's pastime. But for the children who gather at the Miracle League Stadium, the game means much more.
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"It's all special needs kids of various abilities and disabilities," Zurn said. "Everybody's out here and enjoying the game and really getting that thrill of baseball."
Perhaps the person experiencing the biggest thrill is Esther Stohl.
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"It's a wonderful program," she said. "I just love to come out here and just pray for everyone when they go up to bat."
Stohl is the 97-years-old sponsor of "Esther's Braves," a West Metro Miracle League team that plays in Minnetonka.
"I think we've got to encourage every one of them," Stohl said. "And I just love them to pieces."
She owes her involvement in the program to the strength of one little girl, 8-year-old Sydney Claeys.
When Sydney was born, doctors thought she'd survive just a few days.
Then Esther came into her life.
"Esther is somebody I didn't really know before Syd was born," said Elizabeth Claeys, Sydney's mother. "She lived across the street and heard that there was an accident at her birth and just started praying for her every day and really became our angel in the outfield."
Esther's involvement inspired hope.
"I can't tell you how many days that they both held each other up," Elizabeth said.
Now, Esther's an angel not just to Sydney, but to the rest of the brave children who wear jerseys bearing her name while they experience the joys of playing baseball.
"She's just kind of our major cheering section," Zurn said of Esther.
Cheering — and praying — on a diamond where it's not about wins, losses or batting averages. Instead, fun and perseverance takes precedent.
"I pray for all the players, but Sydney, that's why I've lived so long," Esther said. "I'm just living for little Sydney."
"I guess that's why the team is called Esther's Braves," Elizabeth said. "Cause little kids like Syd, they have sort of a quiet braveness that other people can't quite understand."
Yet at Miracle League Stadium, everyone understands one another.
