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Baseball league for autism and special needs players wants to start playing in the Tampa Bay area

Needs coaches, volunteers and players 15 & older
Alternative-Baseball-Organization
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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Taylor Duncan was diagnosed with autism when he was four years old.

The now 24-year-old's diagnosis didn’t stop him from wanting to play real baseball with a wooden bat, a grassy field, and pitchers throwing heat.

His autism did stop people from letting him play.

“Everyone deserves a chance to place traditional baseball,” says Duncan.

To right wrongs and fulfill that lifelong dream of playing the game he loves, the Georgia-based man started the Alternative Baseball Organization.

The nonprofit program is already in 14 states. Now Taylor wants to get a league going in the Tampa Bay area.

People with autism and special needs, ages 15 and up, play traditional rules baseball. Batters use wooden bats on a regulation fiel with real umpires.

There are no “buddies” helping out in the field, although all skill levels are welcome.

A slightly bigger softer ball is used over the course of a 7-inning game. Balls and strikes are called, but there isn’t a lot of arguing.

Taylor needs managers, coaches, players and volunteers to kickstart a league in the Tampa Bay area.

If you are interested, contact the Alternative Baseball Organization.