MURPHYSBORO — Youth baseball players in Murphysboro are capturing attention on social media for some very impressive and valuable reasons.

A Herrin grandparent is applauding the team for what they recently witnessed during a game the Murphysboro 14U team played against a team with a special needs player who hadn’t hit the ball all year.

The grandparent recalled the Murphysboro pitcher throwing very obvious balls across the plate, which allowed the player to get a hit and make it to first base.

After an “attempt” to throw him out at first, the special needs player was able to steal second, an “overthrow” then allowed the player to steal third and eventually home.

But the league’s compassion doesn’t end there. A Jonesboro resident later gave MBL coaches Shannon Green and Kenneth Hanshaw a shout-out for the actions of the 10U team.

The Jonesboro teacher says about 10 to 15 minutes after their game; it appeared the Murphysboro team was playing another game.

It then became apparent the Red Devils were playing a game with a team of special needs kids who were hitting and running the bases while the Red Devils made a good show of trying to get them out.

It turns out the Murphysboro Baseball League has also created the Murphysboro Champions League, a baseball program for special needs children in the area who play against MBL teams, so everyone can feel like a champion.