GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — As May rolls into the Grand Valley, some may ask: Is there anything better than the JUCO World Series?

Well, yes, there is: The community around it. That community gathered at Canyon View Park on Thursday to watch and participate as Challenger Baseball ended its season with a bang.

The Challenger players were from eight teams bearing names from the independent Pioneer League: the Jackalopes, Vibes, Chukars, Range Riders, Hawks, PaddleHeads, High Wheelers and Ballers.

What makes this day unique is the Challenger players were joined on the diamond by a JUCO World Series-qualifying team.

Challenger is a branch of Little League Baseball developed for special-needs children, and every year in Grand Junction, four JUCO World Series teams are paired as buddies for the final game of the season.

Johnson County Community College, Salt Lake Community College, McLennan Community College and Blinn College all took to the fields with the Challenger players and coaches to celebrate the game they all love to play.

As the games began, there wasn’t a face that lacked a smile.

Circling the bases were Challenger kids with JUCO players right by their side, all laughing as they circled the bases back to home plate. Each hit from the batter’s box was followed by a roar from everyone in the stands to the outfield, and when players rounded third, there was a tunnel of JUCO players and coaches waiting for them to run through as they made the final stretch.

One of the things that makes this event so awesome is that every single person benefits. The Challenger players get to tie a bow on their season as they play the game they love next to World Series-caliber players, and they cherish it.

Ella Laca, a Challenger player who ended her season with the Hawks, said the JUCO buddies were her favorite part. When posed the question of why that was, the answer was simple: “shenanigans.”

Going from base to base, hearing the whoops from the crowd as the bat and ball collide, making friends and sharing laughs with those who share a passion for baseball, the shenanigans of the game are exceptional, and that’s what the day is all about.

For some Challenger players, they’ve been looking forward to this all season long.

“My son Henry plays, this is the reason he plays Challenger every year,” said Tara Lemon. “It’s just the coolest environment because everybody comes together and it’s just about taking everyone with where they’re at and who they are and just playing together.”

She said Henry told her the night before he was going to miss his Pokémon tournament to be out there with JUCO guys, and right when he woke up Thursday morning, he was searching for his jersey.

For the JUCO teams, this remarkable afternoon means just as much, but what is most important is the time they get to spend with the Challenger players and the relationships they build.

“It’s a great event,” said Cade Waibel, a sophomore pitcher from McLennan. “McLennan as a whole, we’ve been blessed to come out here each and every year and we love being able to be a part of that and be a part of what this event means to the community and everyone around it.”

Something else the players and coaches enjoy is a few stress-free hours rather than what they’re used to heading into the tournament. Challenger Baseball gives them an opportunity to get out on the bases and simply enjoy themselves. The pressure they feel in the dugouts of Suplizio Field isn’t something that exists when they stand at first with their Challenger friends at Canyon View.

It’s the beautiful calm before the JUCO World Series storm.

As the baseball came to end, the JUCO and Challenger players all gathered together on their respective fields for a big a group photo, then topped off the evening singing of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game,” awards and dessert.

Hudson Byrd, a freshman pitcher from Johnson County, stressed the importance of getting out to Challenger Baseball as a team. He values the time the Cavaliers get to spend with the Challenger kids.

“It’s what it’s all about,” he said. “The game is extremely fun and we all need to be reminded of that at the end of the day. This is the perfect event for it, just how much fun the game can be and how much fun (it is) for all these kids out here.”