Understand
Hartlepool visually impaired athletes secure bronze at Blind Baseball International Cup in Italy
Overview
Two Hartlepool athletes, Gareth Mallabar and Grant Hammond, helped Team GB secure a bronze medal at the Blind Baseball International Cup in Italy. Competing against international teams including Italy, Cuba, the USA, Czechia, and Chinese Taipei, the pair reached the semi-finals before finishing with a bronze medal. Both athletes play for the Hartlepool Monkeys Blind baseball team, which Hammond founded after returning to Teesside.
Key points
- Gareth Mallabar and Grant Hammond from Hartlepool won a bronze medal with Team GB at the Blind Baseball International Cup in Italy.
- The team competed against nations including Italy, Cuba, the USA, Czechia, and Chinese Taipei, reaching the semi-finals before losing to Chinese Taipei.
- Grant Hammond founded the Hartlepool Monkeys Blind baseball team after previously playing in Manchester.
- Gareth Mallabar serves as the team's sighted catcher after initially joining as a volunteer.
- The Hartlepool Monkeys have previously become national champions twice in a row.