By Marilyn Olson, Executive Director
A batter readies his swing as the beeping ball approaches during the 2025 Sooner State Beep Ball Classic, an invitational tournament hosted by NewView Oklahoma. (Photo courtesy of NewView Oklahoma.)
Oklahoma is a great state – not just for its beauty, but because of the many trustworthy people and organizations that come together to support one another. One of those organizations is NewView Oklahoma, formerly known as the Oklahoma League for the Blind. At VillagesOKC, we’re proud to partner with NewView and help connect Oklahomans across generations in meaningful ways.
Recently, my husband Jim and I had the pleasure of volunteering at the 2025 Sooner State Beep Ball Classic, an invitational tournament hosted by NewView Oklahoma which attracts teams from around the country. We brought along our 15-year-old grandson, Isaac, a baseball player himself, to volunteer with us. What a day!
Beep Ball is an adaptive version of baseball for athletes who are blind or have low vision. To ensure fairness, all players wear blindfolds. When the pitcher throws the ball, it makes a beeping sound so the batter knows when to swing. After a hit, a buzzing base signals which direction to run – either left or right – based on the sound coming from that base. Meanwhile, the fielding team listens for the ball’s beeping and tries to field it before the runner reaches the base. If they succeed, the runner is out.
The four-foot tall base emits a continuous sound signaling the batter to run toward that base, left or right. The base operator alternates the left or right base sound indiscriminately to keep the players on their toes. The base is well-padded because most often the blind runner, running full speed will “tackle” or run into the base.
Jim and I were base operators, flipping the switch to signal which base would sound off. Isaac was in charge of resetting the base and adjusting the speaker between plays. He was amazed by the athleticism and determination of the players. At one point, he even wondered aloud how his high school team would stack up against these blind athletes!
It takes a minimum of five volunteers per game, plus coaches, assistants, and support staff. We met people from several states and made new friends, all while learning a brand-new sport. Isaac’s birthday was the cherry on top. We celebrated afterward at Chili’s, where he polished off an entire meal and Molten Chocolate Cake with ice cream.
Volunteering like this doesn’t just give back to others; it adds joy, meaning, and years to our own lives. It keeps us learning, connecting, and growing. At VillagesOKC, we believe in neighbors helping neighbors of all ages. This was a Saturday well spent, and we’ll definitely be back next year – with even more grandkids in tow!
Join us next time. You’ll be amazed at how much life you gain when you give.