(Reprinted from "The Bremerton Sun," June 16, 2002.) SEATTLE -- The loudspeaker blares, "Let's play ball!" and the crowd of Mariners fans in section 314 at Safeco Field jumps to its feet, empty peanut shells falling to the floor. They whoop, they shout, they clap. One turns up the volume on a boom box radio so everyone around can hear, and others adjust the radio speaker-buds in their ears.
For the visually impaired, baseball is experienced through sounds, smells, flavors and friendships.
In contrast to the hubbub above them, under several seats well-trained dogs curl up for a nine-inning nap.
To most of the 65 people in the group, the ball field is just a green blur or is completely black, even on this sunny Sunday afternoon with the stadium roof wide open. But their visual impairments don't dampen their enthusiasm for the great American pastime -- or the home team.
These members of the Washington State Council of the Blind, including a large contingent from Kitsap County's Peninsula Chapter, rely on the roar of the crowd and radio commentators to help them visualize the players on the field, the home run by Sammy Sosa, and, ultimately, the solid trouncing of the Mariners by the Cubs.
Although their eyes don't see the action on the field, their experience of the game is rich with often raucous sounds, aromas, flavors, textures and temperatures of the game.
Safeco staff members greet the group arriving outside the stadium, open a turnstile just for them, and walk them to their seats.
As in every other section of the ball field, there is the occasional confusion about whose seat is whose. A quick swipe of fingers across the raised Braille dots on the tickets quickly solves the problem.
As the people take their seats, many of them collapse white canes into tote bags. They orient themselves, delighting in learning that friends are in nearby seats.
"Is that you, Terry?" Becky Bell of Seattle asks as she stands to let a man pass by her. "It's Becky. Ann is to my right, and Shirley and Dottie and Viola are behind us."
Although some members of the group use white canes or the guiding elbow of a sighted friend to check out fare of the food vendors, others accept the Safeco staff members' offers to take food orders and deliver the popular but sharply pungent garlic fries, the icy beer, or the boxed pizzas to their seats.
Joining Sarah Schweizer of Bremerton for the game is her husband, Jeff, a submariner assigned to USS Houston, and her golden retriever Janine. Formerly of Charleston, S.C., Sarah had attended only minor league games. "This was my first major league game," she said. "The fans are more into it here; the whole atmosphere is better."
Schweizer, who has been visually impaired all of her life, could see the green of the field. By listening to the play-by- play on the radio, she could easily track the action.
Among the boisterous younger fans were 12-year-old Nicole Torcolini, who will be a seventh grader at Central Kitsap Junior High in September. Cancer at age 4 robbed her of most of her vision but not of her lively spirit. She brought along her mother, Cathy, and spent much of the game socializing and filling up on hot dogs, French fries, cotton candy and more.
While the adults were resting on the ferry returning to Bremerton after the game, Torcolini's energy hadn't abated a bit. She talked about her violin, her collection of Lionel trains, and her "mutt" dog. She gave a show-and-tell of a talking keychain, watch and pedometer.
"It says I walked 2.02 miles," she said, and then added defiantly, "I'm not buying a Mariners T-shirt until I see them win!"
Chris Forhan, a 14-year-old Fairview Junior High student, arrived early at the field, hoping to get players' autographs. He scored when Freddy Garcia autographed his baseball.
For many of the members of the group, the chance to spend time together was as important as following the game. "I went with the group last year, too," said Meka White, a 22- year-old from Bremerton who plans to become a massage therapist. "Seeing everybody from across the state, being together as a group, and getting to know everybody better. That's what I liked best about the game."
Organizing the annual event was Cindy Burgett, president of the local Council of the Blind, Braille teacher for the Central Kitsap School District, and a tour de force advocating for the visually impaired. Her daughters, Amanda and Amelia Wearstler, her husband, Lyle, and their two guide dogs, Milo and Arabelle, also attended the game.
During the seventh-inning stretch and in spite of their inability to see the video screen, many in the crowd placed their bets during the "Hat Trick" and "Hydroplane Races," then laughed as some beat the odds of winning.
And as for the dogs, Janine slept through the game. Milo was a bit uptight with the loud noises and peanut shells falling on his fur. And Arabelle left the stadium smelling strongly of garlic.
For more information, the Peninsula Council of the Blind meets the first Saturday of each month until September, when meetings change to the second Saturday of the month. Call (360) 373-2772 for further details. Or call president Cindy Burgett at (360) 698-0827, e-mail [email protected], or visit http://www.sinclair.net/pcb/. Resources Washington Council of the Blind - (800) 255-1147 Washington State Department of Services for the Blind - (800) 552-7103 Washington Talking Books and Braille Library - (800) 542-0866 Web site Links: www.wcbinfo.org, www.acb.org, www.acbradio.org