2008 Woodie Awards
The visually impaired play athletics to the same "beep"
Kevin Showkat
Issue date: 5/13/05 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
Normally, a stiff Saturday breeze and the looming prospect of rain would deter even the hardiest weekend-warriors from a day of activity at the park.
But the Stockton Stingrays aren't weekend warriors. And not even visual limitations can hinder their unebbed enthusiasm and love for America's favorite pastime-baseball.
The Stockton Stingrays Beep Baseball Team, organized and sponsored by the Community Center for the Blind, held a public practice at Sherwood Park Saturday, May 7, as curious onlookers and family of players reclined under the trees on a lazy weekend mid-afternoon.
Sandra Martinez, program coordinator at the 130 W. Flora St. center, believes that the experience helps foster confidence for those who are impaired visually.
"It gives them a chance to play baseball again, and it builds up their esteem," said Martinez.
Martinez spent the majority of her time parked on an ivory lawn chair, dutifully supervising the event and frequently communicating with outfielder Rita Overstreet, a Delta student.
Robert Cruz, a third-year player on Stockton's "beep baseball" team, cherishes the opportunity to get out and actively participate on a team that proffers so much camaraderie for blind or otherwise visually-impaired individuals.
"The fact that you're out here with your friends...At least we can enjoy this type of baseball. It's important to get out and do something like this. It's not easy," Cruz said.
Cruz's unabashed honesty is quite an understatement of the actual degree of difficulty involved. Batters must rely on their hearing abilities to discern the velocity, altitude, and direction of the incoming softball, which is equipped with a special noise emitter that "beeps" at quick intervals.
The bases-resembling punching bags more than traditional plates-come out fitted with noisy buzzers that direct the hitter to the correct spot.
Charnette Boylan, whose daughter Jennifer is a player on the team and attended Delta, likes the fact that the visually impaired have a chance to actively participate.
"I think that for those that have become blind and used to participate in sports, it's a way to get physically active and not just be a spectator," Boylan said.
After the players took their turns at the plate, several "seeing" onlookers paid a nominal $3 registration fee to take up the challenge of hitting the ball blindfolded. Most ended up swinging-at air.
"It's hecka hard," one spectator commented. After whiffing the first several pitches, Ramon Roots, his eyes draped around several times with bathroom tissue, finally made contact with the softball-albeit very little-and slowly trotted towards a base he could only hear.
There are seven players on the team, several of whom attend or have previously attended Delta College. The Stingrays' next game will be Saturday, May 14, at Sherwood Park, adjacent to Gottschalks. Those who are interested in donating funds or volunteering are asked to call and ask for Martinez at (209) 466-3836.
But the Stockton Stingrays aren't weekend warriors. And not even visual limitations can hinder their unebbed enthusiasm and love for America's favorite pastime-baseball.
The Stockton Stingrays Beep Baseball Team, organized and sponsored by the Community Center for the Blind, held a public practice at Sherwood Park Saturday, May 7, as curious onlookers and family of players reclined under the trees on a lazy weekend mid-afternoon.
Sandra Martinez, program coordinator at the 130 W. Flora St. center, believes that the experience helps foster confidence for those who are impaired visually.
"It gives them a chance to play baseball again, and it builds up their esteem," said Martinez.
Martinez spent the majority of her time parked on an ivory lawn chair, dutifully supervising the event and frequently communicating with outfielder Rita Overstreet, a Delta student.
Robert Cruz, a third-year player on Stockton's "beep baseball" team, cherishes the opportunity to get out and actively participate on a team that proffers so much camaraderie for blind or otherwise visually-impaired individuals.
"The fact that you're out here with your friends...At least we can enjoy this type of baseball. It's important to get out and do something like this. It's not easy," Cruz said.
Cruz's unabashed honesty is quite an understatement of the actual degree of difficulty involved. Batters must rely on their hearing abilities to discern the velocity, altitude, and direction of the incoming softball, which is equipped with a special noise emitter that "beeps" at quick intervals.
The bases-resembling punching bags more than traditional plates-come out fitted with noisy buzzers that direct the hitter to the correct spot.
Charnette Boylan, whose daughter Jennifer is a player on the team and attended Delta, likes the fact that the visually impaired have a chance to actively participate.
"I think that for those that have become blind and used to participate in sports, it's a way to get physically active and not just be a spectator," Boylan said.
After the players took their turns at the plate, several "seeing" onlookers paid a nominal $3 registration fee to take up the challenge of hitting the ball blindfolded. Most ended up swinging-at air.
"It's hecka hard," one spectator commented. After whiffing the first several pitches, Ramon Roots, his eyes draped around several times with bathroom tissue, finally made contact with the softball-albeit very little-and slowly trotted towards a base he could only hear.
There are seven players on the team, several of whom attend or have previously attended Delta College. The Stingrays' next game will be Saturday, May 14, at Sherwood Park, adjacent to Gottschalks. Those who are interested in donating funds or volunteering are asked to call and ask for Martinez at (209) 466-3836.