Alternative Baseball Organization wants to recruit from CNMI

The Alternative Baseball Organization is looking for volunteers to help the organization’s baseball program branch out to the CNMI. (Contributed Photo)

The Alternative Baseball Organization, which provides an authentic baseball experience for teens 15+ and adults with autism and other disabilities to gain social and physical skills for success in life, is looking for volunteers to help the organization’s baseball program branch out to the CNMI.

In an email from Taylor Duncan, commissioner/director of the Alternative Baseball Organization, recruitment for 2021 has begun virtually and they are looking for volunteer recruits from the CNMI.

“So in spite of the pandemic, recruitment for 2021 has begun virtually. We are looking for a volunteer coach/manager, volunteers, and players to help us start new programs serving those in Saipan in addition to our many teams (approximately 80 in 33 states) tentatively set to start in fall 2021,” he said.

Because the program is just starting to branch out to the CNMI, Duncan said the organization first needs a volunteer coach to begin.

“We are looking for a volunteer coach/manager, players, and volunteers to help us start new programs serving those throughout the Northern Mariana Islands. [However] We must find a coach/manager in order to begin,” said.

Interested volunteers can email the organization at www.alternativebaseball.org.

In terms of volunteer players from the CNMI, Duncan said players can be of all experience levels as the organization takes them from where they start out at.

“Whether they require to be pitched to slow overhand or hit off the tee, we help develop their physical and social skills,” Duncan said.

According to Duncan, the program follows Major League rules like wood bats, base stealing, dropped third strike, and is a true typical team experience for others on the autism spectrum and special needs to help develop social skills for later in life.

“As many with autism graduate from high school in many areas, services plateau. In a lot of suburban and rural areas, there are no services for those to continue their path toward independence. Many travel to find the limited services which may or may not be available to their specific needs. Realizing a lack of general incentive and opportunities for those on the spectrum, I started this organization to give others on the spectrum/special needs the opportunity to be accepted for who they are and to be encouraged to be the best they can be,” he said.

In addition, Alternative Baseball also has clubs in over 30 states who are also preparing for their Fall start dates.

In 2019, the organization was commemorated as a Community Hero at an Atlanta Braves game and has been featured on ESPN’s Baseball Tonight and NBC’s Weekday Today Show.