The Lincoln Little League is looking for players between 4 and 18 years old to participate in a baseball program designed for those with developmental disabilities. The new Little League is called the Challenger Division. The Lincoln Little League is holding a Field Day at 1 p.m. on Sunday, June 6 to recruit new players.

The Field Day is at the Central Lincoln County YMCA in Damariscotta. Participation is open to anyone in southern Lincoln County, according to Lincoln Little League President Paul Miner. The league began organizing the Challenger Division in January. So far only six players have expressed interest. League officials anticipated between 10 and 20.

“The Field Day is designed to show what the league is all about. We want players who wouldn’t normally have a chance to play baseball this summer have this experience,” said Miner.

League officials hope the event generates more participation for “The Dream Team’s” inaugural season. The southern Lincoln County team will play a six-game schedule against another Challenger Division team in Waldoboro. While southern Lincoln County has struggled to find players, the Waldoboro Little League entrant has 20-plus players signed up.

The Lincoln County League Little has contacted local schools’ special education departments about the new league, but hasn’t found the same recruitment success other Challenger Division teams in Waldoboro, Ellsworth and Portland have.

“I’m not sure why our numbers are lagging,” Miner said. “We’ve done everything other leagues have done and they seem to have plenty of interest. We’re hoping the Field Day brings out more players for our team.”

Little League’s Challenger Division  was established in 1989. More than 30,000 youth participate in 900 Challenger Divisions worldwide, according to Little League’s website. Lincoln County is looking for both boy and girl participants. Local Little League officials want these young athletes playing baseball with their peers.

“It’s really more about the experience than the competition,” Miner said. “All these kids want to do is get out there and play and that’s what this is all about,” he said.

The Field Day is expected to last about an hour, according to Miner.