They're just part of the Academy's baseball team

There he goes. Sam Cantwell, the metro area's stolen base leader, is off again, swiping third against Minneapolis North last week. A great jump prevented the catcher from even attempting a throw.

Cantwell's steal brought shouts of support -- including from female teammate Bekah Pierre -- but severe hearing loss prevents Cantwell from hearing much of anything on the baseball field.

Cantwell, a freshman, and Pierre, a senior, are both first-year varsity players at the Academy for Sciences and Agriculture, a charter school located in Vadnais Heights. While they make for a pair of unique teammates, both are more interested in playing baseball than dwelling on their differences.

"He's Sam; he's just one of the guys," Pierre said.

"She's one of the guys," Cantwell said. "I don't treat her any different."

A lifelong baseball fan, Pierre was invited to play after low participation numbers cancelled the softball season at the school, which was founded in 2002 and has an enrollment of 203 in grades 9-12.

"She was the one girl who we knew could slide into this situation," Eagles coach Paul Peterson said. "She's well-liked at school and she carries herself unbelievably well."

Cantwell, meanwhile, has spent summers on the diamond since he can remember. Though he played soccer and football and still plays basketball, baseball is his favorite sport.

A permanent condition called profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss has left him nearly deaf since birth. Cantwell wears hearing aids in both ears, but he still misses a great deal.

The first baseman cannot hear teammates and coaches talking across the diamond. He cannot hear the ping of the bat from first base. And though Cantwell is an exceptional lip reader, teammates and coaches struggle to get his attention at times in the field. But he is always dialed into the action.

Last week against Minneapolis North, he led off for the Eagles by doubling into left field and then stealing third base -- his 18th steal of the season. The next batter sent a slow ground ball toward second, but Cantwell held his ground despite shouts of encouragement from the bench.

Did not hearing teammates prevent him from scoring?

"Nope," he said. "We only had one out and I figured I would score later."

His decision making was rewarded. Nate Bahr, AFSA's No. 3 hitter, scored Cantwell with an RBI single.

Though only a junior, Bahr is a three-time team captain. He seconded Peterson's motion to bring in Pierre; he is also an example of patience and support when communicating with Cantwell.

"I'm trying to be a better leader," Bahr said. "And the challenges we have this season make you think outside the box."

Pierre holds her own with the boys. During the Minneapolis North game, Pierre sat on the bench -- on the seat back, ballplayer style -- lamenting ticket prices at the Metrodome and spitting sunflower seeds. She periodically stood at the fence shouting encouragement, though she declined to chest-bump a teammate celebrating a run scored because, she joked, "That would be a little awkward."

She entered the game at shortstop in the top of the fifth inning but did not factor into any plays as AFSA (3-5) closed out a 17-1 victory. Pierre has appeared in six games overall, batting in four, and has a .571 average. She has posted more walks (four) than strikeouts (three) against AFSA's independent schedule of small charter, private and public schools.

Playing baseball is the realization of a lifelong dream for Pierre, who before this season always heard that her gender would trump her goal.

But you're a girl, they would say. So, I'll be the first girl.

Pierre primarily pitched for the Eagles softball team. Playing shortstop on a larger infield is an adjustment, she said. Her goal this season is throwing a ball to Cantwell at first base without it hitting the ground.

Cantwell wants to improve his pitch selection at the plate and be a smarter baserunner -- typical goals for atypical players.

"If I was them, I don't think I could ever do it," Bahr said. "Full ups to them. What they are doing is really admirable."