Athletes with visual impairments now have a choice at beepball, an adapted baseball game. This season two beepball teams, recreational and competitive, are offered as part of the Minnesota Fighting Lions Association. The recreational team, the St. Paul Lions, offers a more relaxed game, while the competitive team, the Minnesota Millers, is for those who have a need for more competition.

Power hitter Matt McCoy gets out a hit with Kathy Quinn catching, during the 2012 Beep Baseball World Series. The Millers finished in 10th place, out of 17 teams.
Minnesota beepball teams played in the Beepball World Series in Ames, IA, July 22-26. The Millers had a rough time of it July 24 as they lost to Austin, 12-6 and Chicago, 12-4, on July 24, and 21-1 to Colorado on July 25. The team bounced back that same day to beat Wichita, 11-6.
Beepball or beep baseball is a great sport adaptation for anyone who is blind or visually impaired. People with sight can play beepball but they must don sleep shades that blocks their vision.
Beepball is similar to baseball or softball but players rely on their hearing. The game involves a ball that beeps, so players can hear it, hit it or catch it. The bases also beep, letting players know where to swing and where to run. The bases are made of soft foam and stand about four feet high. Ball players need to touch all the bases to make a run. The field has first, third and home bases, but no second base. Beepball players get four strikes instead of three. The catcher and pitcher are sighted. The pitcher and the batter are on the same team. The pitcher throws the ball underhanded.
Like baseball, the objective is to score a runs by making a connection between bat and ball. If a batter can hit the ball hard enough for the ball to go over one hundred feet, he has a better chance of scoring.
A defensive team is made of six players. They don’t wear traditional baseball gloves and instead stop the balls with their bare hands or their bodies. When the ball is within reach, the defensive player grabs the ball and raises it high over his or her head. That action indicates a successful defensive play to prevent the team up to bat from scoring a run. With the ball raised overhead, the batter is called out if the batter doesn’t make the 100-foot base run prior to the catch of the ball.
Fun and exercise are the driving forces behind the two teams, and both invite anyone interested to try out and check out the fun. Both practice weekly at the Cretin-Derham Hall High School fields in St. Paul, at Randolph and Hamline avenues. The Millers practice 10 a.m.-noon; the Lions take the field 1-3 p.m. Lions’ practices will switch to mornings this summer. Some players from each team participate in both practices. Players range in age from 12 to 70s. Young and old alike put their hearts into the game and all who participate have a lot of fun.
To learn more about the Lions recreational team, contact Coach Dennis Stern, 651-452-5324 or email [email protected]. To learn more about the Millers competitive team, contact Coach Doug VanDyne at 651-788-6652 or email [email protected]

Coach” Deanna Callender makes contact in her first World Series game. The Taiwan Homerun team won the tournament, which was held in Ames, Iowa.
Great article, Clarence! Very informative and a good crack at explaining some of the core mechanics of the game. As a player on the competitive team, I’d like to mirror Clarence’s invite and strongly encourage anyone who might be interested in checking out the sport to get in contact with us. Many players and volunteers from the NBBA (National Beep Baseball Association) have gone on to say that beepball isn’t just a sport you play, but something you fall in love with. Both the competitive and rec teams would love to hear from you!
When I started playing this game
Half of my team mates were ither not born yet or were pre schoolers. Each of the last 3 years I have talked about retiring but then the season starts and I find myself back on the team. and at least at heart I am young again.
What can I say. this sport gets in your blood.
After being involved for 36 years – I am still hooked and in love with it. Come on out all.
I have tried to email Coach Dennis at the email address listed and I’ve gotten a reply back that says “this message is undeliverable.” I want to connect with the rec beepball team! kjensmotwalker @ gmail.com (remove spaces). Not sure what to do. Thanks!
Kjensmo
Hi, readers of Access Press-
This is Coach Dennis of the recreation team. My new email address is [email protected] if you want to ask questions about beep ball.
Thank you
DS