By Damon Mason

After two years of watching from the sidelines, dreaming about what it would feel like to finally wear that LaPlace A’s uniform — year three hit different.

I was 10 years old now, a little older, a little faster, a lot more confident. I had put in the work. I was getting better at catching ground balls, throwing under control, and using my speed to burn the bases. With many of the “Big Boys” moving up to play for Coach CJ Watkins in the 13–14-year-old division, I knew this was the year.

But of course, Randy Brown was still there.
(And yes… I still made sure I was close enough to him when it was time to hear the cuts — just not next to him this time. LOL.)

This year was different though. I wasn’t alone.

Vance Jones, my day-one.
Romell Anthony, Armond Anderson, Mandry Smith, Kenneth Jackson, Eldridge Fobb, Jeremy Elder, Kyrin Dennis, Man Fisher…
We all showed up with something to prove. Our own motivations. Our own hunger.

For me, I had trained almost exclusively to play 3rd base. That was my spot. I wasn’t the best hitter, but my glove was reliable — and my arm to first base? That was my ticket in.

But then came Cut Day…

And just like that — we were cut again.
All of us.

It was one of those moments you never forget. The disappointment. The silence. The “here we go again” feeling in your stomach.

But then something happened.

Too Bits, Mr. Watkins, and Gary Anderson pulled us aside.

They told us:

> “We’ve had so many good kids trying out this year — more than ever. So instead of sending all of y’all home again, we’ve decided to form a second team here in LaPlace…”

That was the day the LaPlace Dodgers were born.

Led by Coach Gary Anderson (Armond’s dad), our squad was made up of the ones who didn’t make the A’s, but refused to quit:
Romell Anthony, Armond Anderson, Vance Jones, Eldridge Fobb, Jeremy Elder, Man Fisher, Kyrin Howard, Jermaine Perrilloux, Sebastian, Duke — and me. To name the few that I can remember

I don’t remember everyone from that first roster, but I’ll never forget the energy. The excitement. We were hungry. We were proud. We were finally part of something.

Meanwhile, guys like Jermaine “T-Boy” Russell, Mandry Smith, and Kenneth Jackson did make the A’s. And Troy Stemley might’ve been with them too.

But then there was Dusty (Lendell Smith).
Now that boy got cut — and we all saw it —
But somehow, by the time the dust settled, he was back over with the A’s like he never left.
Classic Dusty move… if you know, you know.

Still, none of that mattered anymore.
We finally had our shot. Our team.
We weren’t just the leftovers.
We were the Dodgers.

—

Coming Up Next:

That first season with the LaPlace Dodgers became one of the greatest lessons of my childhood.
Not just about playing baseball — but about learning how to think like a baseball player.

Teamwork. Humility. Respect. Coachability. Sportsmanship.

Coach Gary Anderson didn’t just teach the game…
He taught us how to be better young men.