On Friday,
June 22nd, the St. Paul Midway Lions beepball team defeated a team
of local celebrities 7-6 at Midway Stadium. Marilyn Highland scored
the winning run by hitting a ball over the pitcher’s
mound that rolled between the legs of U.S. Senate candidate Bob Olson. By the
time Olson got to the ball, Highland had gotten to first base.
Olson wasn’t the only celebrity player to miss a play. Later
in the game, Greg Lutowsky stepped up to the plate and hit the ball.
When racing down the first base line, however, he missed the base “by
20 feet. By the time he ran back to the first base, Jennifer Dubbin
picked up the ball for the out,” said coach Dennis Stern.
Celebrity player Tom
Heinl had better luck than Olson in the field. Standing even with
third base, Heinl waited for the sound of the bat driving the ball
in his direction. The spotter shouted out, “Three!” Heinl
took that cue and dove to his left, with his body stretched out on
the ground, on his side, to stop the ball rolling towards him. “Got
it!” Heinl shouted. Just in time, the umpire called, “Out!” Heinl’s
defense prevented two points from scoring! (See How Beepball Works,
below.)
Besides winning the
game, Lions players were excited just to play at the home field
of the St. Paul Saints. “All of our players
got to bat at the home plate where Jack Morris pitched over a few years
ago,” said Stern. Even though these are exhibition games, the
excitement and intensity is high. In fact, most of the games this
season have been decided by two runs or less. The next celebrity
donor game will be on July 28th at the Rice Street Festival (11:00
a.m.).
Kevin Moldenhauer, a
beepball celebrity of previous World Series games and an original
beepball player from the 1970s, continues to celebrate and promote
the sport. “Now I play mainly to get out and run
a little,” he said. “I also believe that beepball is
a fun game and that we can keep it going in the Twin Cities. The
teacher in me also believes that my experiences in playing the game
might be something that I can give back to the game that was so great
for me to play.”
All players wear sleep shades, covers over the eyes that block any
residual vision. The ability to hit the ball under sleep shades is
a skill that takes concentration and perseverance. With practice, players
may improve not only their ability to consistently hit the ball, but
also field it.
Unlike traditional baseball, the beepball pitcher is on the same team
as the batter. Standing at a distance of 20 feet, the pitcher throws
the ball where he knows the batter will make a connection. The success
rate between pitcher and batter is contingent upon the consistency
of the pitch and the swing of the bat.
Part of the skill of
the game is to become as comfortable as possible playing a sport
once thought impossible for somebody who’s blind.
Like any sport, friendly competition helps to draw out the talent in
people who may not otherwise realize their full potential. Nancy Schadegg,
long-time beepball player, stated, “It’s a great summer
sport for blind people. It’s a way for blind people to play baseball,
a game they’d otherwise not be able to play.” According
to Suzanne Glidden, Beepball volunteer, “The thing that I find
most compelling is the enthusiasm. There’s so much positive energy
at the games. It’s fun to watch.” ![]()
