San Bonifacio Municipal Fields Host Blind Baseball and Inclusive Drills
During the “Crazy: Tutti Titolari” event held on September 26 at the municipal sports grounds in San Bonifacio, Italy, local officials and regional politicians participated in blindfolded baseball and inclusive drills organized by ASD Crazy Sambonifacese Baseball & Softball. Mayor Leonardo Frigo and Sports Councilor Francesco Malgarise strapped on blindfolds to try hitting and running by sound, joining local youth from CPL San Bonifacio and the Il Fiore cooperative of Monteforte d’Alpone in experiencing the adaptations used by blind and visually impaired athletes.
The outreach initiative aimed to demonstrate how sport can serve as an accessible space for people with varying abilities. Founded on a sports association boasting more than 230 members, the day’s programming was supported by the municipality of San Bonifacio alongside the ULSS 9 Scaligera health authority through its Social Inclusion Project. Additional network partners included the CPL facility, the Il Fiore cooperative, and the Verona section of the Italian Union of the Blind and Visually Impaired (UICI Verona).
Institutional Presence and Blindfolded On-Field Trials
Regional figures joined municipal leaders on the two baseball diamonds to observe and take part in the demonstrations. Regional Transport and Public Works Councilor Diego Ruzza, regional councilor Elisa De Berti, and regional councilor Matteo Pressi attended the morning events. Ruzza summarized the day’s atmosphere by describing the parallel activities across the two fields as two areas working as a single squad, according to coverage from VeronaNews.
Participants without visual impairments wore blindfolds to test the specific sensory cues required in the sport. As detailed by the Associazione Italiana Baseball giocato da Ciechi, the discipline relies on a specialized ball equipped with internal rattles that allow players to track its movement purely by sound. Batters initiate play independently—holding the ball, tossing it upward, and striking it with the bat without receiving a pitch from an opposing pitcher. Audible signals from the first base and directions from defensive assistants guide the runners around the diamond.
Competitive Action Between Crazy Sambonifacese and La Leonessa Brescia
While inclusive drills took place on the secondary diamond, the main field hosted a competitive fixture between the host Crazy Sambonifacese squad and La Leonessa Brescia. For several players on the Sambonifacese roster, the fixture marked their first official game of blind baseball. Strengthened by guest athletes from other clubs, the home side pressured the Brescia lineup—which featured several younger competitors—through the final innings.
The side trains under the guidance of coaches Loris Bucca and Andrea Turro, alongside athletic trainer Stefano Grifalconi, supported by a dedicated group of assistants and volunteers. UICI Verona President Patrizia Mirandola also attended the event alongside social workers and health project representatives to observe the team’s progress.
Rules and Adaptations of Blind Baseball
Defensive players must field the batted ball and throw it toward the sighted player stationed at second base. An offensive runner safely reaches the base if they arrive before the fielder secures the ball. Following the blind baseball match, participants shifted to the softball diamond to play adapted innings of Baseball5, allowing individuals of varying physical capabilities to compete together before the event concluded.
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