Blind student brings passion to UA Little Rock baseball broadcast
June 2-8, 2025
By Angelita Faller
Dallas Cathey, a sophomore at the Arkansas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, took his first step toward a dream career in sports broadcasting by serving as a guest announcer for the Little Rock Trojans baseball team on May 9.
Cathey, a lifelong baseball enthusiast from Warren, Arkansas, served as the color analyst during the Trojans’ game against the University of Tennessee at Martin at Gary Hogan Field, broadcast live on ESPN+. He joined Max Coltrane, UA Little Rock student and the Trojans’ play-by-play voice, in the booth.
“It was a lot of fun,” Cathey said. “We hung out and talked the game of baseball. It was GREAT.”
Coltrane said he wanted the experience to be fun first and foremost but was impressed by Cathey’s sharp instincts and knowledge of the game.
“He did a great job, and I don’t think quality ever took a backseat on the broadcast,” Coltrane said. “We bounced off each other well, and he picked up the game well listening to the PA announcer to hear each batter introduced and had the stat sheet in front of him. It was super enjoyable, and we were at ease with each other. I think he definitely brought something unique to the broadcast.”
Cathey’s opportunity came about after Jena McDonnell, his work supervisor at the Arkansas School for the Blind, reached out to the Miracle League of Arkansas about a possible summer internship. Since their season ends in June, they encouraged her to contact the Trojans, and the rest fell into place.
“He’s something special,” she said. “He has college goals and doesn’t want to sit around. He wants to work. He doesn’t want to take it easy. He’s always asking, ‘What are we doing today?’ He’s always attacking the day which I love. He’s just an All-American kid with a big heart.”
To prepare, Cathey studied team stats and met with Coltrane and Trojans Broadcast Director Hannah Ford the day before the game. On game day, he was introduced to the production team and Head Coach Chris Curry, who shared stories from his own baseball journey.
“I was impressed with Dallas,” Curry said. “You can tell he is a student of the game – very knowledgeable. It was a real honor that he wanted to call one of our games. We hope to see him back here again.”
Cathey introduced Trojan batters during the broadcast, announcing their hometowns and stats, while Coltrane adjusted his play-by-play style to provide more description to support Cathey’s experience.
“A couple of times, he knew a ball was fair or foul just by the sound it made coming off the bat,” Coltraine said. “Late in the game, I said there was a full count, and he corrected me and said it was a 2-2 count. He was so sharp in the booth and kept up with everything very well.”
Blind since birth, Cathey experiences baseball through sound: the crack of the bat, the pop of the glove, the cheers of the crowd, and the voice of the announcer. His love for the sport is shared by his family. He plays in the Miracle League of Arkansas in Monticello and enjoys attending his younger brother Holden’s travel baseball games.
“Baseball has always been my favorite sport,” Cathey said. “Everyone in my family has played, so it’s something we share together.”
His experience in the announcer’s booth has only strengthened his dream of becoming a professional broadcaster—possibly even at UA Little Rock.
“If I can find any other games to announce, I’ll do that,” he said. “I would mostly want to do baseball, but I wouldn’t mind doing sports like wrestling too.”
Photo Caption:
Dallas Cathey serves as a guest announcer for the Little Rock Trojans baseball team. Blind since birth, Cathey experiences baseball through sound.
