The 2014 Wheelchair Softball World Series opened Thursday in Brooklyn Park, featuring 14 teams from as close to home as the Twin Cities and as far away as Japan.

Todd Anderson Field, Minnesota’s first wheelchair-accessible softball field for competitive play, is the main site, with games also being played at two other fields. Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute is hosting the tournament.

Two Minnesota teams are in the field: the Courage Center Rolling Twins and the MPVA Flamethrowers. Above, Evan Thorne of the Rolling Twins celebrated a hit during the first round of play. At left, Brian Chavez pounded out a double. Their team won the 2011 National Wheelchair Softball Association national tournament, the forerunner to this year’s inaugural world series. The Rolling Twins also were runners-up last year in Chicago, edged out by the Nebraska Barons, who have won six of the past seven Division I titles.

Action resumes Friday at the three Brooklyn Park fields: the Community Activity Center, 5600 85th Av. N; Armory Field, 5500 85th Av. N., and Todd Anderson Field, 7600 107th Av. NW. Championship round games will be played Saturday at Todd Anderson Field. For more information, go to tinyurl.com/k7g57ul.