What is Beep Baseball?
Lex swings at a pitch
Beep Baseball – commonly called “beep ball” – is a sport played by visually impaired and blind athletes all over the country and the world. If you were to look at the game from a significant distance, you would think that there was just a regular game of softball being played on the baseball diamond, but when you’re actually a spectator from the sidelines, you will notice the differences immediately.
The rules
Beep ball is not a hard sport to comprehend. A typical game lasts six innings, unless more innings are needed to break a tie game. Each team has three outs per inning, and the umpire is there to throw out any unruly player in the game (or any disruptive spectator!). There is no second base in beep ball, only first and third. Four foot padded cylinders with speakers are placed a hundred feet down their respective lines, and ten feet off the foul line. This prevents a runner from having a collision with a defensive player. The bases contain sounding units that buzz when activated.
The batter does not know which one of the bases is going to be turned on. If the batter connects with a fair ball, the base operator turns on one of the bases. It is the batter's responsibility to recognize which base is turned on and run to it as quickly as possible. If the runner gets to the buzzing base before any defensive player has control of the ball, then a run is scored. If any defensive player gains control of the ball and holds it up clearly for the umpire to see before the runner reaches base, then the defense is awarded an out. There is no running from base to base. A batter either scores a run, gets put out, or strikes out.
A batter is allowed four strikes rather than the traditional three strikes, and one ball is allowed. The fourth swing must be a clean miss of the ball.
Offense
Lex on offense
Each team has its own sighted pitcher and catcher. The catcher's job is to place the target where the batter usually swings. The pitcher must place the ball in the batter's wheel house from a distance of twenty feet.
The rules indicate that a pitcher is obligated to say two words. First, he must say “ready”. This informs the players that the ball is about to be hit. As the ball is being released, the pitcher says either “pitch” or “ball”. This lets the batter know that the ball is being released from the pitcher's hand. The batter then waits for a split second or so and then swings at the ball.
If the batter hits a fair ball, then the race is on between him/her and the defense. A hit ball must travel forty feet to be considered a fair ball. If not, then the ball is ruled foul. A homer is a hit ball that travels one hundred and seventy feet before hitting the ground. A hit ball that rebounds off the pitcher is considered a “no pitch”, and that pitch is nullified and replayed.
The pitcher's role on the team is very important. Even though they may not field the ball, the pitcher must place the ball in the location where the batter usually swings and try to get the offense a score or two. You want your pitcher to have a high ERA. This means the batters are connecting with the ball and getting to the base.
Defense
On the defensive side of the ball, there are only six defenders on the field at a time. The field is divided into numbered sections, and the defensive players set up on the field according to their respective field number in the team defense. Not all teams use the same defensive placement of their players.
Two spotters are positioned in the outfield, one to either side. As soon as a ball is hit, a spotter immediately calls out a number to let the defense know a general location of where the ball is traveling. However, a spotter can only say one number. If a spotter relays any other information, the batter is rewarded a run. The defensive players can communicate as needed, but the spotter or spotters are only allowed to yell one number. Good teams have spotters who can quickly call out precise field numbers for the defense.
A defensive player obtains an out by having clear control of a ball before the runner reaches base. In other words, the defensive player must have the ball off of the ground and in hand clearly before the runner touches the base. If the umpire feels as though the defensive player has done this, then an out will be recorded.
As for air balls, you can try and catch one if you want, but catching air balls are rare. If a defensive player catches a ball before it hits the ground, then the side is retired. There have only been a few sightings of caught balls.
To be a good defensive player, you must be willing to use your body. You must use the ground to block and trap balls and then pick up the ball for the umpire to see. Since most defensive players dive and slide on the ground, flat grassy fields with no trees or bushes are used for playing.
Beep ball worldwide
Lex with his friend Marlon, a fellow beep ball player
Beep ball has evolved into a very competitive sport among the visually impaired and blind. There are numerous teams such as the West Coast Dawgs, the Houston Comets, and the Taiwan Homerun. The World Series of beep ball is the title that all teams want to have at the end of the season. Each year, the World Series is held in a different host city. Previous host cities include Houston, Cleveland, Sacramento, and even Taiwan.
For all information about beep baseball, visit www.nbba.org. There is also a video at ESPN.com documenting the game and some of its fantastic players.
