If you’ve ever been at Broad Ripple Park near the tennis courts, you may have stumbled onto one of Broad Ripple’s coolest (and most inspiring) “hidden in plain sight” traditions: beep baseball and our hometown powerhouse team, the Indy Thunder.
This year is a big one. The Indy Thunder are celebrating their 25th season of competition, and they’ve been practicing right here in Broad Ripple for decades (yes, right here at Broad Ripple Park). They’re also a nationally recognized force in the sport, becoming six-time world champions last season!
At the heart of it all is Darnell Booker: Indy native, longtime Broad Ripple resident, founder of the Indy Thunder, and a dedicated leader in adaptive sports.
Meet Darnell: Broad Ripple neighbor, coach, champion, advocate
Darnell Booker
What stands out immediately about Darnell is how deeply Broad Ripple is woven into his story. He’s lived in the neighborhood for years, loves the walkability and the village’s local spots, and genuinely cares about safety and accessibility, especially lighting and visibility for people walking at night.
Darnell also shared the turning point that shaped his life: at 15, an accident left him without vision in his right eye. That experience fueled a lifelong commitment to community, service, and adaptive athletics. He went on to work at the Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (teaching and coaching multiple sports), and eventually found the sport that would become his passion: beep baseball.
What is beep baseball?
Beep baseball is a version of baseball/softball designed for athletes who are blind or visually impaired, and it is fast, competitive, and genuinely thrilling to watch.
Here’s the basics:
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The ball beeps continuously so fielders can track it.
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There are two bases (first and third), and they buzz when activated. The runner doesn’t know which base will turn on, so it becomes a race of sound, speed, and reaction.
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Players wear blindfolds to keep the playing field equal across different levels of vision.
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Sighted volunteers play key roles as pitcher, catcher, and spotters, supporting the action and making the game possible.
In other words: it’s teamwork, trust, athleticism, and adrenaline built around accessibility and inclusion.
Indy Thunder: 25 seasons strong and built right here in Broad Ripple
Darnell founded the Indy Thunder organization in 2000, and the team began competing in the National Beep Baseball Association shortly after. Over the years, the Thunder have become one of the most respected programs in the sport, both locally and nationally, helping grow the beep baseball community and bringing championship-level play to Indianapolis. In 2025, they completed a perfect 26–0 season and took home their sixth title!
And Broad Ripple has been part of that journey. From practices at Broad Ripple Park to the network of neighborhood businesses and volunteers who show up for games and fundraisers, the Thunder have quietly been building community here for a long time.
A national leadership role rooted in local impact
Darnell’s leadership isn’t just local. In August 2025, the NBBA announced Darnell Booker as First Vice President and Tournament Director, recognizing his decades of experience and commitment to running high-quality competitions and growing the sport.
It’s a big deal, and it says something powerful about Broad Ripple, too: our neighborhood is home to leaders who shape communities well beyond Indianapolis.
How to support, volunteer, and show up
This sport runs on community. The Indy Thunder have a large roster of players and an even larger network of volunteers, drivers, spotters, base operators, and helpers who make practices and tournaments possible. Darnell put it simply: without volunteers, beep baseball doesn’t happen.
If you want to get involved, here are a few easy ways:
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Come watch a game and experience beep baseball in person (you’ll be hooked).
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Volunteer during tournaments—base monitoring is a great entry point (and a fun way to learn).
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Support fundraisers and sponsorships that help cover travel costs and equipment. Email Darnell if you’re interested in a sponsorship at bookerd_23@yahoo.com.
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Follow and share their content to help more people discover the Indy Thunder.
You can learn more about the team and find contact/donation info through their Facebook page.
Why this matters for Broad Ripple
Broad Ripple is built on the things that bring people together: local pride, volunteer energy, and organizations that make our neighborhood more welcoming for everyone.
The Indy Thunder are a perfect example of that spirit: an elite, competitive team with deep roots in our community, creating opportunities for athletes who are blind or visually impaired, and inviting the sighted community to be part of it, too.
So the next time you’re at Broad Ripple Park and you hear the beep of an Indy Thunder practice, pause for a second. You’re not just hearing practice. You’re hearing 25 years of history, teamwork, and Broad Ripple pride, and a reminder that some of the best things in our neighborhood are the ones you discover by surprise.
