Beep baseball demonstration brings community together in Tavistock

Family and friends gathered at Tavistock Optimist Park on Sunday to support Chayse Zehr and learn more about beep baseball. Zehr, centre, holds the bat while his mother, Cherie, and father, Kris, stand beside him. A beep ball is shown on the tee in front. Gary West photo

By Gary West

Family, friends and community members gathered at Tavistock Optimist Park on Sunday to learn more about beep baseball and show their support for local resident Chayse Zehr.

The sport is designed for players who are blind or visually impaired and is still relatively new in Canada.

Zehr, 25, is a familiar face to many in the area. He began losing his sight nearly two years ago and now has about five per-cent vision.

The change came as a shock to Zehr and his close-knit family, including his parents, Kris and Cherie Zehr, his grandparents and his three brothers and their families.

While there is no definite answer as to why Chayse Zehr began losing his sight, his family said it is not related to an injury or family genetics.

A talented athlete throughout his youth, Chayse Zehr is now learning to play beep baseball and hopes it will become another activity he can enjoy.

The game uses a ball that makes a beeping sound, allowing blindfolded batters and fielders to track it by sound. The pitcher and catcher are sighted.

Instead of the traditional four bases, beep baseball uses two padded bases positioned where first and third base would normally be. The bases are equipped with speakers and make a buzzing sound when activated.

The pitcher stands 21-and-a-half feet from the batter. Once the ball is hit, it must travel beyond markers 40 feet from home plate to be considered fair.

The bases are positioned 100 feet from the batter. If the batter reaches the activated base before a fielder retrieves the beeping ball, a run is scored. If the fielder gets to the ball first and secures it, the batter is out.

Games are played over six innings, unless extra innings are required to break a tie, with three outs per inning. Teams can also be co-ed.

Sunday’s demonstration was made possible through local Lions Club sponsorship.

Donna McManus of the Delaware Lions Club, who serves as District A1 vision chair, and Lions district governor Mark Heffernan helped organize the Tavistock event.

Chayse Zehr joined family, friends and volunteers on the field to experience the game firsthand.

His parents and his brothers, 30-year-old twins Colton and Griffin and 29-year-old Tate, were pleased to see so many community members take part and show their support.

While Chayse Zehr’s vision may be limited, his positive attitude and willingness to try something new were on full display Sunday.

Those around Tavistock will no doubt continue cheering him on as he explores beep baseball and whatever other activities come next.