Spartanburg Lions Beepball Team

 

“To feel the excitement and to see the expression on the face of a blind person who has hit a baseball for the first time is to witness the experience of a lifetime”

 

Quick Facts

                                                                                                                                                                                 

Ø     All team players are legally blind                                                   

 

Ø     Member of the South Carolina Foundation for Disabled Athletes

 

Ø     Benny Hawes, Volunteer Coach with the Lions for 24 years

 

Ø     All spotters and umpires are volunteers

 

Ø     Games are played at the Old Cannan Soccer fields

 

Ø     The team plays other beepball teams from Charleston, High Point, Raleigh, Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Durham and Athens

 

Ø     There are only 2 Beepball teams in South Carolina

 

Ø     Most team members also hold a full time job

 

Ø     The special softballs used cost $30.00 each – they could last a whole season, or 1 game

 

Ø     The specially made bases cost $300.00 each and the control box cost $200.00

 

Ø     Milk Barrel Official Softball bats used cost between $200 - $300

 

Ø     The Beepball Season begins in April and runs through August

 

Ø     The Spartanburg Beepball Team is comprised of 10 players

 

Ø     Without donations, the players are responsible for all costs associated with playing, including travel

 

An Overview of How is the Game Played

 

q       There are 7 players on offense and 7 players on defense

 

q       All players are blindfolded to ensure 0% vision

 

q       The pitcher pitches a “beeping” softball to the batter

 

q       There are only 2 bases, 1^st and 3^rd

 

q       The batter is unsure of whether he/she will have to run to 1^st base or 3^rd base until the ball is hit and one of the two bags will begin to “buzz”

 

q       The defense tries to find the “beeping” ball and pick it up before the batter reaches 1^st or 3^rd base

 

q       Once the batter hits the base, the “buzzing” will stop and 1 run has been scored (unless of course, the defense finds the “beeping” ball first and the batter is called out)

 

 

“Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.” – Helen Keller

 

 

Please come see the Spartanburg Lions Beep Ball Team in ACTION and be a part in supporting

and witness the Wonderful Look on the face of a Blind person playing Baseball.