The Winnetka Talk
September 2, 2004

Softball game has a twist at Hadley

In Friday's heat and humidity, a softball game was being played at the Skokie playfield.

At first glance, it could have been any old 16-inch pickup game. Base-runners kicking up 
dust, fielders crouching to scoop up a grounder, people just passing time on an August afternoon.

But if passers-by stopped to take in an inning, they likely noticed that some of the players 
who stepped up to the plate didn't seem concerned with keeping their eye on the ball. But, 
then, their ears told them all they needed to know.

The game, a grudge match of sorts among employees from The Hadley Schol for the Blind, was 
played with a beeping ball.

Staff from the school's basement at 700 Elm St., Winnetka, took the field as "Underground."
 First-floor employees dubbed themselves the "Hurry-Canes." Both teams had two blind players.

The school's dean of education programs and instruction, and leadoff man for the Hurry-Canes,
 George Abbott, described the game as a hybrid version of 16-inch softball and beep baseball,
 a nationally organized league for visually impaired ball players.

With a mélange of rules, Abbott explained that when a blind player, such as himself, stepped 
into the batter's box, an umpire would set the beeping ball on top of a tee, the ball's 
speaker pointed batter-side.

After a hit, the batter could sprint toward first-base, said Abbott, who went three for four.

"We had volunteers who would serve as a vocal beacon at first base, hollering, so you knew 
which direction to run," Abbott said.

But, of course, three strikes and you're out.

Sighted players didn't need to make many adjustments from a regular game of ball, except 
when they couldn't make it to first before a blind fielder got their hands on the ball. 
That was considered an out.

Director of Communications and right fielder Holly Goldin, who isn't blind, said the group 
plans to make the outing a regular event.

After seven innings, Goldin's Hurry-Canes chalked up their first loss, 6 to 5, she said.