School was in full swing, Romell Anthony was gone, and I was locked in preparing for another football season with the St. John Rough Riders. By now, I had built a strong name for myself on the football field —…

The summer ended quicker than we expected. One minute we were in the middle of another exciting baseball season, and the next—it was time to get back to school. But this wasn’t just another school year. We were now 8th…

The time had come. A group of young Black teenagers from LaPlace, Reserve, and Garyville, Louisiana had officially earned the right to represent Louisiana in the Dizzy Dean World Series for the 13–14 age group. To say we were excited…

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.…

It was a different season. A different time. A different mindset. Seventh grade brought a new chapter at Leon Godchaux Jr. High School — a fresh start beyond the classrooms and ballfields of my childhood friends. For the first time,…

We were a little older, a little more mature, and a lot better as a baseball team. I was 12 years old now, in the 6th grade at East St. John Middle School, which sat right behind Our Lady of…

Today, I turn 51 years old. But before I press play on Episode 8 of #dm9origins, I felt led to pause… and reflect. Because this moment feels too sacred to ignore. You see, I was 8 years old when I…

As summer was winding down, one thing was clear: it was time for the FORD All-Stars to take the field. That was the dream—for every player from the Reserve Phils, Garyville Pirates, and LaPlace A’s. If you played Dixie Youth…

The regular season had finally arrived. After weeks of practice, scrimmages, and the unforgettable moment of almost not receiving my uniform, it was time to put it all together. We had everything—brand-new uniforms, energy, excitement, and hunger. But one thing…

By Damon Mason Now that our team was officially created, it was time to get to work. But let’s be real—none of us had ever played together before. Truthfully, most of us hadn’t even been on an organized team. So…