Sounds of the Game

The clank of an aluminum bat was followed by the sound of rawhide skipping through thick grass.

Occupying a table at the far end of the dugout, Darren Keepers tracked the baseball through the infield at Alta Loma High, heard the thwack of the ball arriving in the shortstop’s glove and followed the whiz of the throw to first base.

Keepers didn’t need to hear the umpire’s decision to relay the information over the public-address system. As usual, cheers from the crowd informed him the opposing batter was out.

“The fans are the big thing,” he said. “You want to be able to hear them during the game.”

Keepers, 18, has been absorbing the sounds of baseball since his vision began to fade at age 4. Now a senior at Alta Loma and the only blind student in its district, he has found another way to mesh with the noise.

Keepers volunteered to be Alta Loma’s baseball announcer last year when he learned of the position during the school’s morning announcements. He made such an impression, the team selected him most inspirational player at season’s end.

“That was really cool,” he said. “For once, I was involved.”

Though Keepers is familiar with Enrique Oliu, the blind color analyst who is in his sixth season as a Spanish-language radio broadcaster for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, he has been forced to tone down similar aspirations.

Three years ago, he underwent surgery to correct a narrowing windpipe, leaving him with a voice that’s barely above a whisper. Last year, he was invited to announce a half-inning between the Angels and visiting Seattle Mariners during Labor Day weekend. While those few minutes represented the highlight of his announcing career, they also brought him down to earth.

Keepers was unable to announce Vladimir Guerrero’s position, jersey number, batting order and full name without continually pausing for air.

“I kind of realized that night that my voice is nowhere near where it used to be,” he said.

Discouraged but not defeated, Keepers has rearranged his goals. As a drummer for a jazz band the last two years, he has helped produce a handful of homemade CDs. A solid student who has been integrated into the general student population since the fifth grade, Keepers plans to attend college and is considering studying business or political science.

“He’s always been a go-getter,” said his father, Darrell, an insurance company executive.

Two years ago, a guide dog association came to the same conclusion and donated a fully trained black Labrador named Lambert, a rare gift for someone under 18. Up until then, Keepers relied on a cane to feel his way around school and his neighborhood.

“I can get around a lot quicker now,” he said.

Alta Loma Coach Ted Persell delivers the lineup to Keepers on the day of home games and Keepers organizes it into Velcro strips of Braille. Each Alta Loma player and the various defensive positions have their own strip, allowing the information to be easily transferred. Keepers announces every batter, summarizes each half inning and plays disc jockey in between.

His father is his sidekick during games, collecting the visiting lineup beforehand and verbally relaying that information to Keepers before each opposing batter steps to the plate.

“What amazes me is he’s so determined, so structured, everything is set up so nice,” said Persell, in his third season as Alta Loma’s coach. “He just seems really motivated to do this and that determination, you can see it in his face when he asks questions.”

Keepers has been overcoming obstacles since he was 2, when doctors discovered he was missing his right kidney and Darrell and his wife, Lisa, began scouring their son for other related health issues.

Doctors soon discovered the optic nerve was underdeveloped in his right eye -- the same side of his body that was missing a kidney. Darren began wearing thick eyeglasses, but they seemed to provide little help. Nevertheless, his parents were determined to keep him involved with his peers, signing him up for several activities, including T-ball.

Keepers was completely blind by age 6, but, because of his earlier experience, baseball never left his thoughts. Today, he feels fortunate to be able to recall the shapes and colors of the game.

“That’s one plus,” he said.

In May 2004, he was selected by the Angels to throw out the first pitch before a game against the New York Yankees. There was no need for introductions. Keepers quickly recognized many of the players by their voices.

Guerrero brought over an interpreter to facilitate their conversation; Darin Erstad paid a lengthy visit, even though he was injured at the time; and Bengie Molina gripped Keepers’ arm with both hands, congratulated him on throwing a perfect strike and gave him the signed ball.

When Keepers was selected as guest announcer for the Angels last Sept. 4, the half-inning was highlighted by two Angel home runs. Keepers announced seven batters in all.

The Guerrero episode forced Keepers to look deeper into his other interests, but he continues speech therapy with the hope of restoring some of his voice.

“I wouldn’t want it to end after this year,” he said of announcing.

Whatever path he chooses, Keepers has already separated himself from most other blind teenagers. According to his parents, he will be only the second blind student to graduate from Alta Loma in its 40-year history.