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With help from teammates, Suplinskas sisters adjust to being deaf » Sports » EagleTribune.com, North Andover, MA
Yes, there are definitely complications, but there are some advantages to being deaf.
The Suplinskas sisters of Haverhill, Emily and Kailey, know them quite well and have learned — as members of the Hillies' varsity team — how they relate to the softball field.
Both Emily, a junior, and the sophomore Kailey are pitchers, a position in which staying focused is a must, and that's something that being deaf can help with.
"Sometimes when pitching, the crowd can get loud and I can tune it out," said Emily, who is also an outfielder and an improving batter.
Adds Kailey, who is a southpaw hurler with good potential, "If people are trying to distract me, I can tone it down."
Naturally, there are also times when being deaf can be trying. When Haverhill coach Andy Reusch, for example, shouts instructions, the Suplinskas sisters are often — literally — at a loss.
"When they're hitting, it can be a problem if they don't look down for the sign," said Reusch. "That happened the other day and we made a point after that about making eye contact after every pitch."
For the most part, however, the Suplinskas sisters get by quite easily. Their teammates have learned to communicate in other ways than just speaking and the coaches commonly repeat things to Emily and Kailey in a more direct manner, face to face, at which point their special ear implants and hearing aides have some effect.
Also helpful is that their father, Mike, is a volunteer assistant.
"Sometimes, when the coaches explain things, my kids don't really understand," he said. "But if I'm there and hear it, I can explain it to them when we get home."
On a young and building team, the Suplinskas sisters are key players.
Emily, who is the No. 2 pitcher on the team, is the better hitter of the two and, in the second game of the year, was on base four times. Kailey is the stronger pitcher, with more speed and, when her control is on, can be quite effective.
"Walks were a real problem last year but, in the second game against Chelmsford, she (Kailey) didn't give up her first walk until there were two outs in the fifth," said Reusch, whose club is 1-3. "That's a big improvement. Being a left-hander, she's got enough speed that she can be effective if she can continue to show good control."
Kailey, although younger, actually began playing softball two years before Emily but she asked her sister to join her.
"I thought it'd be fun for her to play with me and she said yes," said Kailey. "It's been good with her on my team."
Being deaf can at times be a lonely experience, so the common bond on the field, with help from understanding teammates and coaches, is beneficial. Off the field, it can be more difficult.
"It can bother me sometimes that friends are talking and I don't understand what they're saying," said Kailey.
And, says Emily, being deaf tends to make you shy "because people are saying things, you don't know what they're talking about so you don't feel like you're part of it."
But involvement in softball has made a big difference.
"Softball has helped a lot and they're less shy because of it," said Mike. "They have a good core of teammates who are great and make sure they don't feel out of place. I'm sure it helps during school when they see their teammates in the halls and can relate to them."
Of course, on the field, the Suplinskas sisters don't feel out of place at all.
Yes, there are definitely complications, but there are some advantages to being deaf.
The Suplinskas sisters of Haverhill, Emily and Kailey, know them quite well and have learned — as members of the Hillies' varsity team — how they relate to the softball field.
Both Emily, a junior, and the sophomore Kailey are pitchers, a position in which staying focused is a must, and that's something that being deaf can help with.
"Sometimes when pitching, the crowd can get loud and I can tune it out," said Emily, who is also an outfielder and an improving batter.
Adds Kailey, who is a southpaw hurler with good potential, "If people are trying to distract me, I can tone it down."
Naturally, there are also times when being deaf can be trying. When Haverhill coach Andy Reusch, for example, shouts instructions, the Suplinskas sisters are often — literally — at a loss.
"When they're hitting, it can be a problem if they don't look down for the sign," said Reusch. "That happened the other day and we made a point after that about making eye contact after every pitch."
For the most part, however, the Suplinskas sisters get by quite easily. Their teammates have learned to communicate in other ways than just speaking and the coaches commonly repeat things to Emily and Kailey in a more direct manner, face to face, at which point their special ear implants and hearing aides have some effect.
Also helpful is that their father, Mike, is a volunteer assistant.
"Sometimes, when the coaches explain things, my kids don't really understand," he said. "But if I'm there and hear it, I can explain it to them when we get home."
On a young and building team, the Suplinskas sisters are key players.
Emily, who is the No. 2 pitcher on the team, is the better hitter of the two and, in the second game of the year, was on base four times. Kailey is the stronger pitcher, with more speed and, when her control is on, can be quite effective.
"Walks were a real problem last year but, in the second game against Chelmsford, she (Kailey) didn't give up her first walk until there were two outs in the fifth," said Reusch, whose club is 1-3. "That's a big improvement. Being a left-hander, she's got enough speed that she can be effective if she can continue to show good control."
Kailey, although younger, actually began playing softball two years before Emily but she asked her sister to join her.
"I thought it'd be fun for her to play with me and she said yes," said Kailey. "It's been good with her on my team."
Being deaf can at times be a lonely experience, so the common bond on the field, with help from understanding teammates and coaches, is beneficial. Off the field, it can be more difficult.
"It can bother me sometimes that friends are talking and I don't understand what they're saying," said Kailey.
And, says Emily, being deaf tends to make you shy "because people are saying things, you don't know what they're talking about so you don't feel like you're part of it."
But involvement in softball has made a big difference.
"Softball has helped a lot and they're less shy because of it," said Mike. "They have a good core of teammates who are great and make sure they don't feel out of place. I'm sure it helps during school when they see their teammates in the halls and can relate to them."
Of course, on the field, the Suplinskas sisters don't feel out of place at all.
