Clinic gives deaf children opportunity to play ball

'In their own language': Clinic gives deaf children opportunity to play ball

By Jonathan Phelps
Correspondent


DANVERS — Like many other 12-year-old boys, Conrad Beltz has always wanted to play Little League baseball. But because he is deaf, his dream seemed unlikely — until now.

On Saturday, the Boxford Athletic Association and the Beverly School for the Deaf hosted the second of four instructional clinics designed to teach children who are deaf or partially deaf the game of baseball. All the fundamentals from how to hit the ball, catch the ball and run the bases were taught with American Sign Language through translators and demonstrations.

The dozen or so players came to Strike One in Danvers from all over the North Shore and central Massachusetts.

"Programs like this are important because they teach deaf children in their own language," said Conrad's mother, Linda Burgoon, who traveled from Natick for him to be involved. "Conrad has never played baseball before, and he has always wanted to. This is our second time here, and he loves it."

He is learning quickly. During a scrimmage at the end of the clinic, he proudly played first base like he's been playing for years.

The program was started by Mark Balding of the Boxford Athletic Association this year after he was inspired by Elvis Calcano, 12, of Lawrence, who is deaf and started playing Little League despite his disability. Members of the Boxford Athletic Association helped raise money for Elvis to go to St. Louis to attend one of the only baseball camps for deaf children in the nation. This clinic is modeled on that camp with the goal to bring the same experience for deaf children locally.
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