Belleville, IL, July 14th, 2021– MindsEye’s nationally competitive BeepBall team, the Gateway Archers, is currently preparing for their National Beep Baseball Association (NBBA) World Series Debut in Wichita, Kansas July 26-31. BeepBall is an adaptive form of baseball that allows athletes of all visual abilities to play together. All BeepBall players are blindfolded, except for the sighted pitcher and outfield spotters. They are guided by sound– the beeping ball, buzzing bases, and cues from the pitcher.
The Archers team formed in 2020, but due to COVID-19 was only able to participate in one NBBA tournament in their inaugural season. During the off-season, the Archers continued to practice, including a spring training day with the 4-time World Champion Indy Thunder team. In the three tournaments thus far this season, the team has been gaining traction and attention. Rookie, Kyle Borah #94 and new Archer, Richie Krussel #28, were named All-Star Defensive Team in Indianapolis. In Champaign, the team took third place overall while Kyle Borah received Offensive and Defensive All-Star honors and Josh Sisson received Defensive All-Star Honors.
19 teams will compete at the Beep Baseball World Series this year, divided into five brackets. The first three games determine seeding for the rest of the tournament, and the Archers expect to play 10-12 games total. The series will also feature a “Women of our League” (WOOL) exhibition game, in which Archers mother-daughter duo Kim and Mari Blumenthal will participate. Kim is an Archers co-captain, while Mari is a sighted pitcher and outfield spotter. Pitcher Ashley Rench and Spotter Kasondra McDaniel will also participate.
The Gateway Archers thank this season’s sponsors, which include Permobil Seating and Positioning, Lighthouse for the Blind – St. Louis, Ameren Illinois, Emerson, Mascoutah Eyecare, and St. Louis Cardinals Cares.
Follow the Gateway Archers on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegatewayarchers
Watch the recent PBS Channel 9 “Living St. Louis” Archers feature: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dsht21jsU7I
MindsEye and The Gateway Archers are a Proud United Way Safety Net Member