More to the Story with Staley: Alternative Baseball

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — It’s a baseball program that used to operate here in Chattanooga, then it went away. Now, organizers are hoping it will come back. Hosting an exhibition game is the first step.

It’s the Alternative Baseball Organization. Born in 2016. The goal is to enrich the lives of those who are autistic or face other challenges.

Taylor Duncan founded the organization, and he’s the commissioner.

“What it’s really all about is providing opportunities for growth,” said founder Taylor Duncan. “Even though we might lose, it teaches us to bounce back from disappointment. So, we can improve ourselves.”

There are some 25 teams playing alternative baseball all across the country. But the organization is always looking to expand.

That’s why Boyd Buchanan will host an exhibition/celebrity game on July 29, with an eye on recruiting new athletes in our area.

Duncan says Chattanooga is an important city to the league.

“We had a very successful program in Chattanooga prior to the pandemic,” Duncan said. “We lost the program because of COVID-19. Chattanooga was one of our better programs in the country!”

You must be at least 15 years old to play in this league. It’s classic baseball- wooden bats, regular bases. The only difference is the ball itself, which is a bit larger and softer than regulation.

Duncan says the organization is not trying to replace leagues that are already in town.

He says it’s simply trying to create new opportunities.

“We learn the skills in baseball to become a powerful player in the community,” Duncan continued. “It isn’t just baseball to us. We’re teaching people to go out there and tackle whatever they want to tackle.”

Taylor Duncan was diagnosed with autism when he was four years old. And he plays whenever he’s needed.

All in the name of empowering people to achieve big things.