Oklahoma Lookouts Shine at Beep Baseball World Series: Adaptive Sports at Their Best
You may not have heard much about beep baseball, one of the fastest-growing adaptive sports for athletes who are blind or visually impaired.
In fact, you might think it just involves a beeping ball and players who are blind or visually impaired. But it’s so much more than that—it’s a fast-paced, full-contact, high-scoring sport with world championships, Hall of Famers, and enough adrenaline to rival any game you’ve ever watched.
This summer, the Oklahoma Lookouts—our local beep baseball team formed just two years ago through NewView Oklahoma—took the 2025 Beep Baseball World Series in St. Louis by storm.
From Beep Ball Newbies to the World’s Top Six
When the Lookouts started in 2023, most of the team had never played beep ball before. They had three big things going for them:
- A core group of talented local athletes
- NewView’s adaptive sports programs
- Legendary Beep Baseball Hall of Famer Tim Hibner as their pitcher
Their first World Series ended with a 15th-place finish. In 2024, they climbed to 12th. This year? They shattered expectations—matching their total wins from the past two years combined, finishing 6th in the world with a 5–4 record. Let’s take you through how they got there.
Day One | Making a statement
The Lookouts opened against the Chicago Comets, one of the league’s best. Everyone warned how good the Comets were.
Hall of Famer Tim Hibner’s response?
“I keep hearing how good the Comets are… well, guess what? SO ARE WE!”
The Lookouts backed him up with an 18–11 upset victory, the biggest in team history (at least until later in the week)! They finished the day 2–1.
Day Two | the pressure builds
The double-elimination round began with a close loss to the Boston Renegades. One more loss would send them home.
Day Three | the perfect day
The team woke up at 4 a.m., ready for a do-or-die day.
Game 1 vs. Atlanta Chaos: A 15–8 win. No time to celebrate.
Game 2 vs. Austin Blackhawks: The Lookouts had lost to the Hawks five straight times—until now. They held on for a 6–5 victory, stealing the title of “biggest win in team history” from Day 1!
Game 3 vs. BCS Outlaws: Exhausted but unstoppable, they pulled off a 15–10 win.
Three games. Three wins. One unforgettable day.
Day four | the finish line
Running on fumes, they fell to the Gateway Archers and then to the Comets in a heartbreaking one-run loss, finishing 6th overall. In four days, they played a whopping nine games—an achievement in itself.
More Than Just Wins and Losses
The Lookouts lost a key player, John Marquez, to injury early in the week, forcing every remaining player to step up. All nine players on the roster either scored a run or made a putout. Their season goal was a top-10 finish—they nailed it. But the real victory? A team culture built on grit, humor, and heart.
And there was another big win—Head Coach and player Mark Ivy was selected as an all-star to play in the 2025 Ultimate BeepBall tournament, presented by MindsEye and George Mason University, coming up October 3–4, 2025, in Fairfax, Va. It’s a well-earned honor for a leader who pushed this team to its best season yet.
The Next Generation is Already Here
While the World Series was a highlight, the real magic of beep baseball is what it means to young athletes who’ve never had a chance to play on a team before. They are a shining example of what’s possible through adaptive sports like beep baseball.
- Braylon (14) had never swung a bat before attending a NewView beep ball clinic, where he excelled! Now, he’s joining the Lookouts for the 2026 season.
- Ian (15) told us after traveling to a goalball tournament with the team, “This has been the most fun I’ve ever had playing sports in my life.”
- Gabe (15), who has macular degeneration, became the youngest player in the tournament to score a run—something he’d never dreamed possible.
Why adaptive sports Matter
Beep baseball isn’t just about the game—it’s about belonging, teamwork, and proving to yourself that you can do things you didn’t think you could.
For someone who is blind or has low vision, the opportunities to be part of a competitive team are often rare. Adaptive sports level the playing field, allowing athletes to compete at a high level while building confidence, resilience, and lifelong friendships. The sound of the beeping ball, the rush of running toward a buzzing base, and the cheer of teammates when you make the play—these are moments that stay with you.
The Oklahoma Lookouts are proof that with heart, talent, and opportunity, a team can go from total beginners to one of the top in the world in just three years! But beyond the wins and rankings, they’re building something far more important: a community where every player feels valued, capable, and unstoppable.
This season was historic, but it’s only the beginning. And for every young player like Braylon, Ian, and Gabe, the field is wide open—and the future is bright.
