Last week was the first ever NBBA World Series held in the St. Louis area out at the SLYSA fields over in St. Charles. 20 teams from around the country made their way to our fine region to participate in what turned out to be an incredible Beep Baseball experience.
If you are unfamiliar with what Beep Baseball is, I’ll give you a quick overview. Beep Baseball is an adaptive version of baseball for those who are blind or partially sighted. Instead of the pitcher trying to strike out the batter, the pitcher, catcher and batter are all on the same team, working together to get the beeping ball hit. Once successful, the batter will then race towards either third or first base, which are about 4 foot tall, foam pylons, and then it’s a matter of if the defense can gain control of the ball before the batter reaches their base.
Of course, there is a lot more nuance to the game as a whole, but if you are just now finding out about Beep Baseball, you now have a pretty good idea of how the game is played. Now that that’s out of the way, strap in because we’ve got a lot to cover.
Opening Night
The event started on Monday the 22nd of July, and that evening all the teams gathered on the field to witness the opening ceremony which included an eloquent speech from MindsEye President & CEO, Jason Frazier, followed by another wonderful speech by the Mayor of St. Charles Dan Borgmeyer. Then, to cap off the ceremony, a beautiful performance of our national anthem, performed by none other than Navy Petty Officer First Class (ret.) Generald Wilson.
After the opening ceremonies were complete, the Kids of our League (KOOL) clinic and Women of our League (WOOL) game kicked off the series. These events were a way to allow for more people to get a chance to play who wanted to, as inclusion has always been a big part of what we do.
Shoutouts
Of course, we wouldn’t have been able to do any of this without our incredible volunteers and sponsors who donated time, money, and so much more to this wonderful event, a massive thank you to each and every one of you.
A very special shout out to our presenting sponsor, Lighthouse for the Blind – St. Louis, who not only sponsored the event in a big way, but also put their own staff on the job, really coming in clutch more times than I can count.
Of course, there wouldn’t have been a place to play had it not been for SLYSA, who not only gave us a place to make it all happen, but also supported us every step of the way, making sure we had what we needed and that the fields we as gorgeous and pristine as they could be.
Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers also played a big part in making sure the players were fed, coming out with swag and prizes, as well as a whole stack of discounts and bogo offers for everyone. Thank you guys for always being on our team.
Lastly, but not leastly? We must give a big ol’ shout out to the St. Louis Cardinals, Mid America Transplant, and the Lions Club, for sponsoring MindsEye and this year’s world series, we could not have done it without you.
Special Guests
We had some special guests make appearances during the event, I previously mentioned Mayor Dan and Navy Petty Officer First Class (ret.) Generald Wilson, thanks again to them for coming out and supporting Beep Baseball, but I would be lying if I didn’t mention that more than a few people were geeking out when none other than Bengie Molina came out on Saturday to throw the first pitch of the Championship game.
After that, Mr. Molina stayed the whole game, cheering on the players and allowing fans to take pictures with him. A huge thank you to Bengie for showing your support to this great game and helping to make it an unforgettable experience for players and fans alike.
Championship Game
It was fitting that Bengie Molina threw the first pitch at this championship game, because what a game it was. After the Philly Fire had handily beaten the Gateway Archers the day prior, the Archers clawed their way back up to 2nd place, giving them a shot at the gold.
The Archers were ready to take their spot at the top, but standing in their way, was an undefeated juggernaut of a team, the BSO Philly Fire. Undaunted, the Archers took to the field, pulling out all the stops, but for the first few innings of the game, the Fire came out swinging hard, and before we knew it, they had a massive lead on the Archers.
Never a team to give up, the Archers continued to make ground, closing the gap with every inning, until it was the top of the 6th and the Archers were only down by 4. The tension was palpable as Archers player Justin Holland stepped up to the plate. With two outs already on the board, it was up to him to make the play count.
With the sound of Justin’s bat hitting the ball, a hush fell on the crowd, some were holding their breath, gripped by the drama that was unfolding before them, others just knew better not to cheer during a play after being scolded several times.
A fly ball skyrocketed towards the outfield, and Justin bolted for 3rd, but the Philly Fire were too quick, gaining control of the ball before Justin could make it safely to the base. An uproar exploded from the Fire dugout as the team stampeded from their seats, embracing and celebrating their victory and becoming the 2024 NBBA Beep Baseball Champions.
Chance for Redemption
The Archers may have lost the championship game, but let’s not forget the incredible improvement of the athletes that represent us here in STL. It was only last year that our team ranked 9th, now we’re 2nd, and that’s not nothing. Also winning the Viva Las BeepBall Invitational, Sooner State Invitational, Battle for Illinois, and Indy Bonanza regional championships proved this wasn’t a lost year.
That being said, the chance for redemption is within reach, as we will be hosting the 2025 world series as well. So, buckle up Archers fans, it’s going to be a wild ride.
Conclusion
If you’re interested in finding out more about getting involved with MindsEye or the Gateway Archers, reach out to MindsEye Athletics Coordinator Cole Pedtke, he’ll be able to get you plugged in. I myself had an amazing time at this year’s world series and I can’t wait for the next one. My name is Paul Pennington, and I sincerely hope you enjoyed this Beep Baseball edition of the blog. I’ll leave you with a quote from Kyle Borah, an Archers Player who had this to say about the series.
“This World Series was the best one I have participated in. Even though we just missed 1st, the team played amazing. Players stepped up when called on and we had each other’s backs. It was also so amazing to be able to play in front of all my friends and family. Plus, we received a good amount of news coverage. I just hope people see it for the amazing sport it is and all the elite athletes playing it.”