The summer had arrived, and with it came another opportunity — my second consecutive appearance with the FORD All-Stars. This time, I was with the 13–14 age group, representing St. John Parish in the Dizzy Dean League Louisiana State Tournament. But before we dive into the historic moment we experienced that summer, it’s only right that I acknowledge the moments and memories that led up to it.

Earlier that year, my sister Radiena Mason graduated from East St. John High School. During the ceremony, a friend named Charlie Grover — part of that graduating class — was called up and recognized for earning multiple scholarships. One of them was for football. That caught my attention in a way I’ll never forget. I turned and asked someone, “What’s a scholarship?” That’s when I discovered that if you were good enough, sports could open the door to college — for free. That seed was planted that day, and it would grow into a dream of my own.

East St. John High was more than a school — it was a place full of energy, legacy, and pride. I remember watching them play at Leon Godchaux Jr. High, back before they had their own stadium. I’d go out and watch giants like Mike Pittman and Clyde Cooper dominate on the field. Darren Johnson and Charlie Grover ran teams crazy, while the band made magic in the stands. My cousin Terry “TMan” Thomas laid down the bass line with his Bass horn, and Stee Bo made his trumpet sing with soul. I also remember listening to the ESJ choir with people like Zachary Lennox, and the ESJ students putting on a play called “The West Side Story” that caused me to love that movie, especially since my cousin Cornell Baptist was Bernardo, one of the main actors.

As I got older, I  heard stories of Bert Alexander and his legendary experiences at 4-H Camp. The talent shows at ESJ were can’t-miss events, with performers like Bobby and Cornell Baptist, and that one night Andrew Brown showed up looking exactly like Prince — unforgettable. My cousin Jerome “Buckwheat” Anderson was on the wrestling team, and my dad would take me to watch him compete. I even listened to East St. John baseball games on the radio during their playoff runs — names like Wayland Martin, Bobby Gibson, Keith Gipson still ring in my head. And I can’t forget the era when my cousin Kevin Branch was always in the newspaper because of his play on the basketball court.

And then there were the athletes who we were told paved the way — Juan Watkins, Aaron Lewis, Orlando Mason, and the two we always heard about: Gerald Williams and Louis Lipps. But the one who showed love to a young athlete like me, regardless of my nicknames, while no one else was speaking my name at the ball parks was Derrick Houston — and I never forgot that. Those times above gave me much to dream about.  Now my time is here.

Playing with the LaPlace A’s that summer, I made the All-Star Team again. But it wasn’t easy to crack the starting lineup — we were stacked with talent. Still, I embraced my role. I came off the bench often as a pinch runner, using my speed and instincts to give us an edge. Every moment on the field mattered.

We played our hearts out in Kenner, Louisiana, and won the State Championship, defeating the Kenner Green, earning a spot in the Dizzy Dean World Series for the very first time. I’ll never forget the conversations I overheard in Burger King after that final game — the coaches and parents talking about how “Damon made a big difference with his base running.” That affirmation meant everything to me.

When we returned home, a caravan of cars paraded through the streets, honking horns, celebrating the boys from LaPlace, Reserve, and Garyville who made history. We ended in Milesville, right in front of Romell Anthony’s grandparents’ and his dad’s house, because he was the winning pitcher that night.

We weren’t just ball players — we were the first Black team from our community to represent Louisiana in the Dizzy Dean World Series.

That summer, we proved that hard work, unity, and faith could take you to places you never imagined. And that’s a story I’ll always carry with me.