The long-standing rivalry between Boston and New York will be displayed Saturday morning when the New York Bombers take on Boston Strong in Beep baseball at City Field Park in Glen Cove.
The doubleheader between the teams will be the fourth annual fundraising game, with proceeds going towards transportation, equipment, and travel costs. Ted Fass founded the Bombers, the only visually impaired baseball team in the state, in 1998.
Their opponents, Boston Strong, were created in 2022. The team travels to compete in tournaments across the country and practices on Sunday mornings at Tufts University.
Since 2023, they have played the Bombers twice a year outside of tournaments, with the purpose of developing skills, gaining game experience, and creating competitive situations.
Beep baseball is a modified version of baseball played by blind or visually impaired athletes. It uses a beeping ball and buzzing bases. The game has been around for over 50 years, and there are 26 officially affiliated teams across the country.
All players wear blindfolds to create an even playing field. In addition, players utilize their entire body, diving onto the ground to stop a beeping ball to record an out, hitting a pitched ball, and running 100 feet full speed toward the sound of a buzzing base to score a run.
When the batter makes contact, one base begins to buzz, and the runner must reach it before a fielder locates the ball by sound. There is no second base, and scoring depends on speed, sound, and teamwork.
John Alutto, a volunteer for Beep baseball practices, fundraiser, and umpire in the upcoming game, explained that in prior fundraisers, the Bombers played the Sunset Mets, a men's senior baseball team Alutto managed. Each player contributed $100 towards the Bombers, and a game would follow.
"It got kind of old," he said. "So, this year, I contacted the Boston Strong, and we got them coming down for the first time; so, Glen Cove is going to see a real Beep baseball game."
Alutto was personally intrigued by Beep baseball since his friend Joey Esposito has a blind son. After getting Esposito's son on the Bombers, Alutto has been involved with them ever since.
According to Boston Strong head coach Joe Quintanilla, Saturday's game will be the first time the teams play each other on Long Island. Last year, they faced off in Central Park.
He added that the Bombers will return to Massachusetts for a game in September.
Quintanilla said he is aware of the historic tension between the two cities. While the games are extremely competitive, he emphasized the mutual respect the teams have for each other.
"I think that there's, obviously, there's a rivalry in the whole Boston/New York cultural thing," he said. "But we get along great. I mean, we love seeing these guys."
Alex Barrera, a Bombers player since 2008, echoed Quintanilla's feelings of respect towards his opponent, although he made it clear his goal was a victory.
"We're looking to win, of course," he said. "Despite our excellent relationship with them on the field, we're still looking to be competitive, and they know that as well, so it should be a terrific doubleheader."
Barrera and Quintanilla, both blind, pointed to several benefits of playing sports, including mental, physical, and spiritual ones.
"I get so much out of it that it keeps me going and wanting to do and improve as an athlete," Barrera said. "Every day I'm looking forward to improving. It's just part of my daily activity."
Quintanilla was a runner growing up and played Beep baseball for 25 years. The 49-year-old also participated in the marathon at the 1996 Paralympics in Atlanta. Looking at Saturday's game, he said he and his players are excited to get out there and compete with an opponent they respect and work hard with.
"I think that you can have fun and still be ultra-competitive. I'm a pretty competitive, but I channel it in a way that is not tension-seeking or doesn't create tension," he said. "It's good to know that we have allies 180 miles away willing to say, hey, we're going to help you grow your program. I think it's pretty cool."
