by Boston Strong Head Coach Joe Quintanilla
Remember that elementary school assignment where you were asked what you wanted to do when you grew up? My response was to be the left fielder for the Boston Red Sox. Because I have Retinitis Pigmentosa, I was not able to catch or hit a baseball. As a blind child, baseball was not even available to me. But, because of technology and volunteerism, beep baseball (an adaptive form of America’s pastime) changed that forever. I was finally able to play baseball and hit a ball that was pitched to me, run full speed to a buzzing base, dive to make a defensive put out- all by using my sense of hearing. I was finally a left fielder for Boston, and got to compete at the highest levels of this game! Today our new program, The Boston Strong, begins its first season as part of the National Beep Baseball Association, where we will be competing against other blind teams. The unique part of the Boston Strong is that aside from being a travel team, we include youth at the practices. Kids who don’t see well enough to play little league can now play our game as part of this new program! They will not have to wait until they are adults like I did to play this amazing game and have a weekly activity to be a part of. Another aspect of our team that is unique is that our lead coaches, including myself, are blind and will lead/run our program.
Through sports you can build resilience an inner strength. Our team name, the Strong, symbolizes our work ethic and ethos. To be part of the team, you don’t have to be uber competitive or consider yourself an athlete- you just need to have the willingness to try and give it your best. As they say, step up to the plate and find what’s in you and what you are capable of. Have fun, exercise and make new friends!
Visit https://adaptivesportsne.org/beep-baseball/ for more information.
