INDIANAPOLIS — Beep Baseball is growing in popularity here in Indiana.
It allows athletes with a visual impairment to compete, and a local team is hoping to win big this weekend. The Indy Thunder is going for their sixth World Series title in eight years.
Imagine being visually impaired and trying to hit a softball. These athletes make it look easy.
Kyle Lewis became obsessed with Beep Baseball 16 years ago.
"I attended the Indiana School for the Blind when I was young," Lewis said. "I participated in some sports there, but when I transferred over to public school, I just couldn't qualify for anything. This got me off the couch and up and moving, and I've never looked back."
To even the field, everyone wears an eye mask.
"Giving athletes things to do in the summertime," Darnell Booker said. "You know, this is not a school sport, it's a club sport and a sport that just gives these guys opportunity."
Booker is the founder of Indy Thunder. He has dedicated 40 years to the sport.
"It's just a labor of love. I love it, and I love to see athletes, young adults and adults, to compete and go out there and have a good time and the camaraderie and the sportsmanship, and then just making these guys, showing these guys about how it is to be a leader," Booker said.
Gerard Woodard said he has several family members who are visually impaired, so he volunteers as a pitcher.
"When you can be a part of somebody else succeeding, you know, scoring a run, getting a put out, winning games, that's what drives me," Woodard said.
The Thunder will play for the World Series title next week.
"That's the goal," Booker said. "You can't win anything on paper. The last seven championships have come from Indy, and we're trying to reclaim it back here on the north side."