IMPD to take a swing at beep baseball against the Indy Thunder
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A team of IMPD officers is preparing to go head-to-head with one of the Circle City's most decorated sports teams.
Why it matters: The beep baseball showdown between IMPD and the Indy Thunder will generate funding and awareness for a squad that has helped visually impaired Hoosiers experience the thrill of world-class athletic competition for the past 25 years.
How it works: Beep baseball is a version of America's pastime adapted to be played with your ears instead of your eyes.
- Because the level of vision loss varies, the playing field is leveled by having every participant wear blinders.
Beep baseball closely resembles softball with a number of tweaks, starting with the ball itself. It's bigger and has a device inside that emits a steady "beep" to help players locate it.
- There are only two bases that look similar to tackling dummies placed where first and third are usually located.
- The pitcher, batter and catcher are part of the same team as six defensive players cover the field.
- When a ball is hit fair, one of the two bases will emit a buzzing sound, letting the batter know which base to run to.
- Batters score if they make it to a base before a defender can track the ball, control it and hold it in the air. Otherwise, they're out.
The big picture: Twenty-six teams compete in the National Beep Baseball Association (NBBA), an international league established in 1976.
- Along with teams from major U.S. cities like New York, Chicago, Atlanta and Boston, the league includes teams representing Taiwan and Puerto Rico.
- Twenty-four teams are registered for the 2025 season.
Zoom in: Indianapolis is a force to be reckoned with in the NBBA.
- The Indy Thunder, formed in 2000 by coach Darnell Booker, is the city's oldest beep baseball team and won five NBBA championships between 2016-2021.
- Their run of dominance ended from within — the 2022 and 2023 National Beep Baseball World Series Champions were the Indy Edge, a team that spun off from the Indy Thunder in 2018.
Between the lines: IMPD Capt. Shane Foley said preparing for the charity game has been a fun experience for the 11 officers taking part, but they're in for an uphill battle against the former world champs.
- "We've gotten better because when we first started, we weren't coming anywhere close to touching the ball," Foley said. "And while I'm a competitive person, we don't stand a chance. So we're gonna have a good time losing."
Yes, but: Booker will try to even the odds by loaning out a few members of the Thunder roster to IMPD for the event.
What they're saying: Booker, who lost vision in his right eye at age 15 due to a BB gun accident, said beep baseball has had a profound impact on his life and the lives of countless others.
- "When you see these guys swinging on their own and running free to that base, it's an independence thing," Booker said. "It gives you the confidence to go out and get that job. To go out and be a leader in society. That's what it's all about."
If you go: The free game starts at 10:30am Saturday at the back of Broad Ripple Park at 6380 Evanston Ave.
- Donations are encouraged. Bring your own chair.