BLIND BASEBALL’S BANANAS, SEARCHING AND BINGO

28 Sept

Blind baseball is such an amazing sport to watch.

Hitting a baseball as a visually impaired (VI) player is very difficult but the fielding demonstrated at the WBSC Blind Baseball International Cup has been out of this world.

A ball with a bell inside is hit towards the fielders, who are all wearing the compulsory blackout goggles which levels the playing field.

On Saturday, Cuba were playing China and were in the field. The Chinese batter hit the ball hard and was on his way to second (first base is simply a transit base).

With the ball entering the fielding zone, the Cuban players suddenly sprung into action. The nearest fielder lay down, using his body as a wall. This is known as the banana.

The ball hit him and bounced up and over but his fellow players were already in motion, following the instructions of the sighted player at second base.

Two were on their hands and knees searching for the ball to make the throw to second with the Chinese batter out by a yard.