The National Beep Baseball Association 2012 World Series will be played in Ames. Seann DeMaris of the Ames Convention and Visitors Bureau, says Iowa State will host the series July 22 through the 28.
DeMaris says Beep baseball is an adaptive version of the game for the blind and the visually impaired where the baseball beeps and the bases buzz. He says 16 teams are expected to be involved in the series. He says as a result of this they are starting an Iowa team and hope to have it ready to play next year. The teams that will participate in the series include Taiwan.
DeMaris says the Beep World Series doesn’t play on a regular baseball diamond. DeMaris says they actually play on a soccer field to avoid any obstructions, and they will play on the soccer complex east of Jack Trice Stadium. Other adaptations for the game have all the players blindfolded because there are different levels of blindness. There will also be some things for the crowd to get used to.
DeMaris says fans traditionally cheer when a player hits a ball, but in this game they ask that fans be quiet until the play is over so the players can hear the beeping baseball and the buzzing bases. The Iowa Lions Foundation is the sponsor for the series.
DeMaris says they will be looking for volunteers to help with the tournament, and you can find out more at:www.amesbeepbaseball.com.