The Buffalo Hot Shots at the SONA Softball Championships

For Brian and Tracy Warren, the Buffalo Hot Shots are a second family. So when they were chosen to represent New York at the Special Olympics North America (SONA) Softball Championship last month in Oklahoma, they were positively psyched.

Of course, making a long trip at such short notice isn’t easy. A team that started with 10 athletes quickly grew to 26, which made the 13-athlete roster a difficult decision for Brian and his wife/co-coach, Tracy. Nonetheless, they teamed up with their fellow coaches to assemble a great squad.

“All of them were very excited for what would be one of the biggest events for them,” said Brian. “Their reactions were fun to hear, wondering who was more excited, players or parents.”

Once their roster was set, the Hot Shots got in their reps. They added a second day of practice outside their usual three-and-a-half hours of training, knowing they were facing other teams from the southern United States whose local climate allows for longer seasons. Brian always strives to make practices fun for athletes and coaches because of the bonds they’ve all built together as a team.

The Buffalo Hot Shots played a total of nine games in just three days while in Oklahoma. (That’s more games than some Special Olympics New York teams play in a single season!) The games started off with a rainy gold medal round, and the bats for the Hot Shots warmed up too late and ended with a tough loss, sending the team to the bronze medal game. Still, the Hot Shots were fired up, and nothing stopped them from winning and bringing home those medals.

“Seeing these teams battle, sometimes losing by a lot, but the friendships that are made are so awesome,” Brian said. “Special Olympics NY knows it’s a competition, but when the competitions are over, they will have a new friend when all is done.”

Brian and Tracy worked hard with their team throughout the summer to be selected for the SONA Championship. Other teams, players, and coaches tell them they love to see the comraderie of the Hot Shots. And after such an amazing experience, they’ve only grown closer.

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