STEELE SPORTS

The Alternative Baseball Organization (ABO) – a baseball league for teenagers 15 years or older with special needs – will be coming to Owatonna this next fall.

The ABO has operated since March 2016 and offers a realistic baseball experience for athletes who may have been excluded from organized athletics due to cognitive or physical special needs.

“When I was much younger, I had speech issues, anxiety issues, and more that came with having autism. I wasn't able to participate in competitive sports due to developmental delays, in addition to social stigma (preconceived ideas) from those who think what one with autism can and cannot accomplish. With the help of my mom, teachers, mentors, and coaches who believed in me, I've gotten to where I am today in my life: To live with the goal to inspire, raise awareness, and acceptance for autism and special needs globally through the sport of baseball,” said ABO commissioner and director Taylor Duncan.

After speaking with Duncan over the phone, I have to say that this league and the opportunity that it presents youth and adult athletes in town is absolutely unparalleled.

Not only will it provide athletes who have been forced to be sidelined from athletics the opportunity to join an organized league, but it will also provide them with the valuable life skills that sports teach so many of us.

All the while, affording these athletes an ultra-realistic style of game.

Athletes in the ABO will compete with live pitching – though tees and soft toss will be available options – and games will include nine-man rosters, wooden bats, base stealing, and dropped third strike rules.

Essentially, the ABO will bring with it a ruleset as close to major league baseball as one can get.

Duncan also noted that the ABO has one team already operating in Rochester, and that the success of the team out there, coupled with the region's love for the sport, has created a perfect environment to expand.

“Y’all love your baseball,” said Duncan with a laugh.

Quite honestly, I’m not sure how much more of a slam dunk this league could be for a town like Owatonna, which already hosts events such as town-ball summer teams and Corky’s Early Bird Classic.

Adding another team into the mix not only creates a larger community of athletes but gives a fresh new flair to the fall sports season… while also keeping the local baseball-loving community busy with another team to root for.

With the formation of the team looking to get underway in the near future, the ABO is looking to find athletes and volunteers looking to take part in the team for the upcoming season.

More information on the team can be found at alternativebaseball.org.