BIDDEFORD — There was some kind of serious Opening Day baseball being waged down at the May Street Fields on Saturday.

You could tell by the business-like demeanor Emily Bell brought with her to the plate.

By the way Breanna Morlock bolted out of the batter’s box at the crack of the bat.

By the snappy plays in the field made by Josh Leblond.

And even by the words uttered by the one fiery competitor.

“I think the umpire stinks.”

Yep, this was serious Little League baseball, alright.

Challenger Division Style.

The Challenger concept is not a new one to Little League, having been introduced on the national level to allow It is, however, new to York County, having been initiated this year by the West Biddeford Little League.

“I’m excited,” said Alex Millett, a gym teacher at Biddeford Primary School who heads up the WBLL’s Challenger Division. “Because typical kids have plenty to do. Our kids don’t have anything. They sit home quite a bit. But now they have this. They have something. That’s why I’m excited.”

The cause of all this excitement is 11-year-old Joey Shortsleeves.

Like many lads his age, Joey is a baseball nut.

A ball cap ever present on his head.

A ball and glove his treasured possessions.

A fanatical devotion to the Red Sox.

“He loves the Sox,” said Erica Herring, Joey’s mother.

However, unlike most children, Joey is almost exclusively bound to a wheelchair, although he uses a walker on occasion.

Joey was born with a condition known as microlissencephaly, a disorder that prevents folds in the brain from forming.

Speech, growth, development, all are severely impacted.

“It (the brain) functions the way ours does,” said Herring, “but it’s completely smooth. But he knows his colors, and he knows his 1-2-3s. He knows what he likes, and this is what he likes.”

According to his mother, Joey is quite discerning when it comes to the Sox.

He’s happy when they win, takes it hard when they lose.

“He knows his baseball,” Herring said. “If we put the (uniform) numbers with the faces of the team he can actually match them. I know he could.”

Joey got to taste the game for himself last year, when he participated in the Challenger program offered by the Deering Little League of Portland.

Stationed at shortstop and often wheeled around by his older sister Nicole, the involvement with other youngsters on the diamond allowed Joey to thrive.

“He talks to people in his own way,” Herring said. “But socially, it’s in the ballfield. It’s brought a lot to him.

“It’s just a whole breakthrough for him. And for any of these kids. It brings a whole new level of independence.”

Joey’s interest in participating closer to home set the wheels in motion to bring the Challenger Division to Biddeford.

With the support of Millett, who leads a special education recreational program, 19 players signed up through the WBLL, enough to stock two teams.

Blue and Yellow.

With Joey having been named a Special Ambassador for the Challenger Division in Opening Day ceremonies.

What an Opening Day.

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, now playing shortstop, No. 3, Joey Shortsleeves.

“I was almost in tears when they announced his name,” Herring said. “It just hit me.”

— Contact Dan Hickling at dhickling@journaltribune.com or follow on Twitter @DanHickling.