Beep baseball for blind and visually impaired athletes comes to Waltham

The Boston Renegades beep baseball team played against members of First Parish in Waltham at Brandeis University on Saturday, June 7. The event showcased the excitement of beep baseball, where blind and visually impaired athletes take the field “with heart, hustle, and community,” according to the event’s website.

Beep baseball is a version of America’s pastime adapted for blind and visually impaired athletes using buzzing bases, beeping balls and teamwork for a fast-paced, competitive game. Learn more at the National Beep Baseball Association.

Elena Regan, a recent Brandeis graduate, was among the athletes taking the field on June 7. She started playing the game as a blind teenager chasing a dream to become a Renegade.

Founded in 2000 as the first competitive team sport in New England for blind adults, the Boston Renegades have called Watertown’s Filippello Park its practice home for nearly 20 years. The team holds regular practices at the park on Sunday mornings. Additional practices are scheduled for Wednesday evenings in various locations.

The Waltham event was funded by the Jones Partnership Fund with the support of volunteer Barry Stearns and church members. The game helped raise funds for travel to a beep ball tournament in Norwood, PA, where the Boston Renegades and four other Northeast-based teams will vie for the annual “Beast of the East” crown.

Learn more by visiting the Boston Renegades website or by contacting the team at bostonrenegades@gmail.com.