Nothing’s Impossible Baseball scores 15-plus years of inclusive activity 

JuJu Simmons approached home plate with her bat in hand.

“Uh oh,” a fielder yelled, “here comes the home run!”

As she’s done for more than half of her life, the 22-year-old Simmons whacked a ball into the field at Nipper Maher Park and made her way around the bases. A 2022 Waltham High School graduate, Simmons is considered an “OG” of Nothing’s Impossible Baseball, a program for athletes of all ages with physical and developmental challenges.

“I keep coming back not just because I love baseball, but because of the community,” Simmons said.

The league itself began in 2010 with a collaboration between John Huff and Heidi Barberio. The former led the city’s baseball league, and the latter had worked with children with disabilities and knew of a group of athletes hoping for a baseball league of their own. Within a couple weeks, the program filled up and play began at Nipper Maher Park. 

Each Friday evening players, supporters and volunteers gather just before 6 p.m. for a joyful hour-plus of outdoor activity and camaraderie. Nothing’s Impossible Baseball welcomes athletes with disabilities to participate in America’s pastime in a low-key, no pressure but always fun environment. There are no age restrictions, and while most participants reside in Waltham, players from communities as near as Newton and as far as Billerica have joined in. Every player is paired with a volunteer throughout the evening, and parents and siblings are invited to join.

This year’s opening day was July 10. The season runs through Aug. 21, including an end-of-season banquet as part of the penultimate session. Between 25 and 35 athletes, all but one or two of whom are Waltham residents, participate each week. The volunteers, save for the occasional non-Waltham affiliated baseball team, also come from the city.

Every moment is memorable at Nothing’s Impossible Baseball, and Huff and Barberio remember so many. They recalled an athlete from the first year who was in a wheelchair and made it his goal to circle the bases without assistance by year’s end. He did it. 

“It’s fun just to see them smile,” said Dave Carvelli, who has since stepped into a leadership role. 

Players wear red shirts with the Nothing’s Impossible logo and name tags. Everyone bats, and volunteers make sure to announce their names with gusto. When not playing in the infield, participants enjoy a game of catch in the outfield, one of Simmons’ favorite parts of the night. Cheering never stops. 

Eleven-year-old Parker Roy, a rising fifth grader at Northeast Elementary School, looks forward to baseball each week and “running the bases like Sonic the Hedgehog.” He’s befriended peers of all ages, including Nick Depace, 33.

“There’s so much joy everywhere,” said Roy’s mother, Jen. “He just runs out the door each week.”

Another longtime participant, Depace recently moved from Belmont to Waltham. 

What keeps him coming back?

“Having fun with my friends,” he said.