By Damon Mason

Before I ever made a team…
Before I ever heard my name shouted from the crowd…
Before I ever believed I was good enough…
There were men like Shelvin “Too Bits” Ceaser and Victor Sanders.

These two weren’t just baseball coaches. They were community builders, vision carriers, and father figures to generations of boys who didn’t yet know what manhood looked like.

Coach Too Bits, you gave the LaPlace A’s more than just instruction — you gave us structure, pride, and belief. You made the uniform mean something. You taught us that effort, discipline, and respect for the game was non-negotiable. And even if I wasn’t on the team yet, watching you coach made me want to be coached.

Coach Sanders, the Garyville Pirates moved differently because of your presence. You led with authority and heart. Your teams were fierce, well-coached, and always ready. But beyond the scoreboard, it was the standard you set that sticks with me. You gave kids from Garyville something to fight for, something to belong to, and something to carry with them even after the last pitch.

Together, y’all gave us summer memories, weekend dreams, and lifelong lessons — not just in baseball, but in life.

You planted seeds. You molded legends. You believed in kids who would one day grow into men like me.

This is my way of saying thank you. For seeing us. For pushing us. And for giving us a foundation to stand on.

Because of you, we didn’t just learn to play — we learned to believe.

—

Next Episode Preview:

The wait was over…
After two summers of being cut, the moment finally came.
But did we earn our spots — or were we simply picked due to something deeper happening behind the scenes at Woodland School Grounds?

Episode 4 dives into “Exit Day” — the last day of tryouts — and the unexpected shift that changed everything.
Don’t miss it.