Seven-year-old Hunter Samworth was a huge fan of the minor league Dayton Dragons, especially their team mascot, Heater. Even if he couldn’t hear the crack of the bat or the roar of the crowd. Hunter is deaf, and communicates using sign language.
According to the Dayton Daily News, one Saturday, Hunter’s parents took him to a game. As soon as the boy walked into the stadium, he ran to the dragon mascot and signed “hello.” Heater replied…in American Sign Language, asking Hunter if he liked baseball. Hunter signed back that he loved baseball and Heater.
“To have someone who was able to communicate with him…was amazing,” Hunter’s dad told the News.
How many of the team’s mascots were trained in ASL? Only the actor playing Heater that day, who was studying to be a sign language interpreter—and got great practice with his biggest fan.
