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Top 3: Yuma brothers, born deaf and mute, lead their team to YBBL title | ronnie, danny, arviso - Yuma Sun
When Ronnie Flores recorded the final strikeout to clinch the YBBL championship for Lee Farms on Monday, he and twin brother Danny couldn't hear the roar of the crowd or the excitement from their teammates. But they were as much a part of the celebration as anyone.
The two 12-year-olds were born deaf and mute. And though their situation might require a little special attention, so do their skills on the baseball diamond. Ronnie and Danny were among the top pitchers and hitters in the league this year.
"Sometimes it's hard because we can't hear (our teammates) or communicate with other kids," Ronnie said through a sign language translator, "but sometimes it's fun being different."
Danny and Ronnie each pitched three innings during Lee Farms' 12-7 victory over Picacho Homes at Kennedy Park for the city title. Ronnie also belted an inside-the-park home run down the left-field line and ignited a five-run rally in the fifth with a leadoff triple.
Veronica Arviso, Danny and Ronnie's mother, said it is unknown why her two sons were born deaf. She added that she wasn't tipped off that something might be wrong until they were about a year and a half old.
"Some kids are scared of the vacuum cleaner when they're younger, but they weren't responding to anything. We went behind them and started pounding on pots and pans and they didn't turn around," said Arviso, who is also an assistant coach for Lee Farms. "We took them in (to see the doctor) and they still don't know what caused it."
Arviso immediately began learning sign language, and eventually moved her family to Phoenix for a couple years so Danny and Ronnie could go to a deaf school. And though she has been well-schooled in sign language, she added that it can still be a challenge communicating with her two sons.
"I think there's a lot of frustration for them," Arviso said. "I'm not as fast (at signing) as they are and I have to tell them to slow down a little bit. But they communicate with other kids really well. A lot of kids will try to learn certain signs. I don't know how they do it, but some of them understand what the boys are signing and trying to get through."
Danny and Ronnie have been almost inseparable since birth and help each other through every new situation. On the field, they're never afraid to show each other a little tough love.
"They pretty much coach each other," Arviso said. "When Danny's not doing too well, Ronnie gets mad at him and he'll go talk to him."
When Ronnie Flores recorded the final strikeout to clinch the YBBL championship for Lee Farms on Monday, he and twin brother Danny couldn't hear the roar of the crowd or the excitement from their teammates. But they were as much a part of the celebration as anyone.
The two 12-year-olds were born deaf and mute. And though their situation might require a little special attention, so do their skills on the baseball diamond. Ronnie and Danny were among the top pitchers and hitters in the league this year.
"Sometimes it's hard because we can't hear (our teammates) or communicate with other kids," Ronnie said through a sign language translator, "but sometimes it's fun being different."
Danny and Ronnie each pitched three innings during Lee Farms' 12-7 victory over Picacho Homes at Kennedy Park for the city title. Ronnie also belted an inside-the-park home run down the left-field line and ignited a five-run rally in the fifth with a leadoff triple.
Veronica Arviso, Danny and Ronnie's mother, said it is unknown why her two sons were born deaf. She added that she wasn't tipped off that something might be wrong until they were about a year and a half old.
"Some kids are scared of the vacuum cleaner when they're younger, but they weren't responding to anything. We went behind them and started pounding on pots and pans and they didn't turn around," said Arviso, who is also an assistant coach for Lee Farms. "We took them in (to see the doctor) and they still don't know what caused it."
Arviso immediately began learning sign language, and eventually moved her family to Phoenix for a couple years so Danny and Ronnie could go to a deaf school. And though she has been well-schooled in sign language, she added that it can still be a challenge communicating with her two sons.
"I think there's a lot of frustration for them," Arviso said. "I'm not as fast (at signing) as they are and I have to tell them to slow down a little bit. But they communicate with other kids really well. A lot of kids will try to learn certain signs. I don't know how they do it, but some of them understand what the boys are signing and trying to get through."
Danny and Ronnie have been almost inseparable since birth and help each other through every new situation. On the field, they're never afraid to show each other a little tough love.
"They pretty much coach each other," Arviso said. "When Danny's not doing too well, Ronnie gets mad at him and he'll go talk to him."