PELLA — Taking advantage of an unexpected opportunity at the Iowa Baseball Camp for the Deaf, Central College junior Bo Gerbracht (Wellsburg, AGWSR HS) was invited to join the American team for the World Deaf Baseball Championships in Japan this November.
           
Gerbracht has been on a journey with his hearing since a young age.
           
"The doctors are not sure if I was born deaf in my left ear or became deaf from an infection," Gerbracht said. "I actually have two types of hearing loss. My left ear is profound sensorineural and my right side has moderately severe conductive hearing loss.  I can't hear anything on the left side and I hear about 55% on the right side."
           
An audiologist at the University of Iowa Hospital recommended a baseball camp for deaf and hard of hearing children which Gerbracht attended in Des Moines for three years starting in 2015.
           
Frequently invited back to help out at the camp by director Dylan Heuer, Gerbracht's schedule finally aligned this summer and he was able to volunteer. The USA Deaf Baseball Team also helped at the camp this year and played a few exhibition games which Gerbracht had not originally intended to play in.
           
"They were short a few players so I had the chance to fill in for a couple of games," he said. "Just a few days later I received a call asking if I would join the team. It was an opportunity I never expected and one I could not pass up."
           
The 2nd World Deaf Baseball Championship will take place November 1-3 in Kanagawa, Japan. Team USA won the silver medal in Tawain in 2024.
           
"I'm looking forward to wearing a USA jersey and representing our country," Gerbracht said. "This is an opportunity that few get to experience, and one I won't take for granted.  I'm very grateful for this opportunity and it wouldn't be possible without my family, coaches and teammates over the years. 
             
Making the jump from high school to college can be difficult for any 18-year-old, but Gerbracht's hearing loss can cause additional complications.
           
"Growing up, most of my classmates knew I was hard of hearing," he said. "When it came time to start college, I was nervous. My speech wasn't always easy for others to understand and during my first week at Central it was tough adjusting."
           
An information systems major, Gerbracht has made 13 career pitching appearances for the Dutch over 14 innings of relief work. The team quickly became a resource to ease his transition to college.
           
"Baseball is what kept me at Central," he said. "I found a group of people who accepted me for who I am and helped me feel like I belong."
           
He also found resources to help him academically.
           
"The Student Support Services staff at Central have also been a tremendous source of support," Gerbracht said. "I receive notes from a classmate in each of my classes, which makes a big difference because I don't always catch everything that's said during lectures. The smaller class sizes at Central have also helped me succeed, and every professor has been understanding and willing to accommodate my needs."