What a night!

It's 9:45 p.m., and I just returned home from the Dan Scott and Friends Appreciation Night with the Upstate Challenger kids.

You've heard the term sweltering heat before, but this evening was the epitome of the phrase. Our 6:30 p.m. start took place with the temperature still hovering around 98 degrees. It was still 90 on the drive home just over two hours later.

Imagine how the Clemson Tiger, who showed up to encourage the kids in full fur and jersey, felt?

But for the Challenger Kids - the mentally and physically handicapped children who make up the league - the night was perfect. With roughly 200 folks in attendance, the kids "breezed" through an exhibition of their baseball skills before everyone hiked up the hill to the hot dog cookout.

There were so many highlights this evening, too many to really list here. The smiles said it all, really. And that's what they play for - fun and the absolute love of the game.

You'll be hearing more about the evening on my radio show, and soon there will be pictures on the WCCP website (www.wccpfm.com).

But a big "thank you" to everyone who showed up, and all of you who donate you time and money every year to these beautiful kids.

I can promise you, they - and I - appreciate it.