World Series of Beep Baseball arrives in Norman, Oklahoma: A game changer for blind athletes
NORMAN, Okla. (KOKH) — The World Series of Beep Baseball is coming to Norman, Oklahoma, bringing athletes from all over the world.
“It’s called Beep Baseball. It’s probably more synonymous with slow-pitch softball,” said Oklahoma native Christian Thaxton. ”Everyone who is on the field and actually playing is blindfolded. There's a pitcher and a hitter you try and hit the ball and score.”
Thaxton found Beep Baseball about seven years ago in Boston after losing his vision during his freshman year of college
“Sports were a huge part of my life,” he said. “I was a three-sport athlete playing and losing my vision I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to get that kind of my competitive life back.”
Joining the team gave Thaxton an outlet, with games getting more intense than he could have imagined.
“Honestly you get pretty beat up,” he said. “I leave the first day and I’m like barely walking. It’s a challenge and it’s a grind.”
The team provides much-needed support on and off the field.
“More than likely out of that group you’re playing with someone been through what you’re going through, whatever that challenge may be,” Thaxton said.
It’s a support system that helped Thaxton get all the way to the Hall of Fame.
"In 2017 at the World Series I broke a record for batting average,” Thaxton said. “They actually inducted my bat into the Hall of Fame.I saw my bat on display next to guys like Robinson Cano and Joey Votto, guys that I grew up watching”
Now transitioning to a coach's role, Thaxton has one thing to say to the group making the world series of beep baseball possible.
“Thank you Norman, Oklahoma for putting this together,” he said.
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