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CNN Live At Daybreak

Portland, Oregon Little League Team First to Have All Deaf Players

Aired June 12, 2002 - 06:57   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Finally on DAYBREAK, the Portland, Oregon Little League Baseball team is the first of its kind to have all deaf players. Scott Birge (ph) of CNN affiliate KOIN reports that far from being handicapped, the deaf players hold an advantage over a typical team.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SCOTT BIRGE (ph), REPORTER, KOIN (voice-over): The sun is shining and the stands are packed with fans. It's little league baseball on a Monday afternoon. What's different about this game it's not easy to see, but rather for the Texas Rangers, it's what they hear.

The Rangers are the first all-deaf team in the country to play in little league, and the kids are enjoying every hit, run and error.

LOGAN BOWERS, THIRD BASEMAN: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) as two wins and the rest losses. But I don't think that's important, because the important thing is that we're all having fun. Well, because I love to hit and it gives me a lot of satisfaction. I don't want to just sit home and watch TV and eat junk food. I'd rather be out playing baseball, having fun.

BIRGE (ph): On the field, you may think the deaf kids are at a disadvantage, but they've got their own secret weapon.

TROY TRUELOVE, RANGERS COACH: They can't understand what we're saying, so we can sign all we want and we can tell them to steal. I can tell them to bunt, and they don't have any clue what we're saying, so that's a real advantage.

BIRGE (ph): And much more importantly, these kids are participating in life as equals, and that's a lesson that everyone on the field learns.

MAUREEN STEVENS, PARENT: I think it's really good for the other children on the other teams because it creates awareness. And, you know, they'll grow older and they'll always remember this. And so if they come across any deaf people, they'll treat them more like equals.

BIRGE (ph): And for the Texas Rangers, playing in a common afternoon little league baseball game is the thrill of a lifetime. (END VIDEOTAPE)

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