“For Me, Beep Baseball is Life” by Kalari Girtley

It is no exaggeration when I say Beep Baseball saved my life, even though I was only nine years old. I had lost my vision suddenly three years before, and I was still having a hard time adjusting. I hated that I couldn’t see, and I felt hopeless … and angry.  

In Beep Baseball, I got to swing a bat and tackle a base, which was great for my anger. It also gave me the opportunity to run. After I lost my vision, my parents became a bit overprotective and discouraged me from moving about at high speeds. (Not that I can blame them because my navigational skills were still developing.) But on the field, I was encouraged to move as fast as I could, running to a base or trying to field a ball, and it felt great! 

Beep Baseball gave me a place to channel my childhood energy and feed my competitive fire. I wanted to run faster, hit harder, and cheer louder than everyone else. And I did. Last year, I was named an All-Star and recognized for elite middle-infield defense. 

More than scratching my competitive itch, Beep Baseball taught me a lot about life. When I’m on the field, I feel invincible. Even more, it taught me self-advocacy, built my confidence, and helped me learn to trust my own judgment. Those are all skills I have taken into the “real world” and put to use as a parent, employee, and member of my community. 

I don’t know where I would be without Beep Baseball. It has been with me throughout most of my life, and I’m grateful for all that it gave me.  

The Chicago Lighthouse was proud to sponsor the National Beep Baseball Association’s 50th Anniversary World Series Tournament, which took place in Aurora, IL, August 3-8, 2026.