Latest news, weather and high school sports for Albany and Southwest Georgia

ALBANY --
Imagine playing baseball in the dark. Parents might immediately say it's dangerous, but people across the world are finding out it's just the opposite, even beneficial.

"It's very gratifying for me because I get to play a sport with my son because I never know when or if I’m ever going to play with my son in sports at all,” said Ervin Fulton.

Fulton has been visually impaired since he was ten years old, something that has kept him from enjoying sports with his son, until now.

For the past two years both father and son have been playing beep ball, a version of baseball for the visually impaired that relies on every sense but sight.

"It’s just such an enjoyment to watch someone that has a handicap be able to do the same thing I can do or even do it better,” said head coach James Smith.

Smith's team, the Albany Vipers, played the Atlanta Eclipse earlier this afternoon, getting help from the Albany police AmeriCorps who see this as a great experience.

"Today is important to them to let them know that they're just like everybody else, that there's no difference,” said AmeriCorps member, Mercedes Luster.

There was no difference as players without visual impairments wore air-tight blindfolds and learned a lot more than how to play.

"There's so many things you can't see that are benefitting each and every player, and quite frankly, each one of these things benefit the volunteers as well."

Today's game gave both teams a chance to practice for next year's world series which will take place in Columbus.

Byrd hopes to have enough beep ball teams across Georgia to be able to create an all star team to compete for the top honor.

To get involved, visit https://www.facebook.com/pages/Atlanta-Beep-Baseball/184620908230337 or https://www.facebook.com/georgiablindsports#!/pages/Georgia-Blind-Sports-Association/227718920625159 where you can contact Byrd directly.