A Coach Sees Two Kids Outside The Fence And Builds A League That Welcomes Everyone

Ten years on local radio teaches you what spreadsheets can’t: communities don’t run on trends, they run on people. We open with a quick, grounded Henderson County real estate update for anyone watching Western North Carolina home prices, inventory, mortgage interest rates, and days on market. The pace has changed, but the market is still moving, and we talk through what that “new normal” looks like for buyers, sellers, and anyone trying to price a home with confidence. Then we shift to the reason the Hometown Hero Award exists: honoring neighbors who make sure nobody gets left out. Donnie Jones joins us to share the story behind Western North Carolina Special Needs Sports and its Special Needs Baseball program. What started with one moment, two kids playing catch outside the fence during a Little League game, becomes a league that now serves 130+ players from seven counties. Ages run from four to 76, and the welcome is real: wheelchairs, walkers, blind, deaf, and every ability level, with a simple promise that everyone plays. We also dig into the practical side of keeping inclusive sports alive, from coaches and volunteer “buddies” to community partnerships like the Sheriff’s Department, plus fundraising through a motorcycle raffle. You’ll leave with real details on how to join, how to help, and where games happen at Jackson Park. If you care about Hendersonville community life, special needs sports, or simply what it looks like to build belonging on purpose, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review with the name of someone in your town who deserves to be honored next.