Teams from all over brought their game faces, competitive spirits, and their dads to join Team Steel in Lasorda Legacy’s biggest tournament of the year. Games were being played at every field while parents flooded the stadium seats to watch and cheer their team on.

Many fathers in attendance had played baseball themselves growing up, so they said it was an honor to watch their kids find their passion playing the sport that had brought them so much joy. One father who had played baseball up until high school said, “I love that he’s following in the same footsteps, and that he has the same passion for it like I do and decided he wanted to play himself.” Most of the parents, some who never played baseball, were happy that their sons decided that they wanted to play baseball on their own, and that it wasn’t something they forced upon them.

The sport of baseball creates an amazing bond between a father and son. A father and son having a catch for the first time initiates that unbreakable bond while unlocking a core memory that neither of them will ever forget. Another father said his favorite memory is “His first time throwing someone out behind the plate.” Later on, in the game his son went into the batter’s box and hit his very first homerun, scoring his cousin who was standing on second base.” This was a moment they’ll never forget.

Youth sports have become extremely popular, especially around the sport of baseball. One father in response to what can make youth sports a positive experience for kids, said “the idea of being on a team where you develop new bonds, friendships, and constant support” whereas another father said “commitment, teamwork, and a positive environment.”

Steel Sports values their core values of teamwork, respect, integrity, and commitment that is shown by staff, coaches, and players. This weekend the real MVPS of the tournament were the fathers who demonstrate the core values on a daily basis, giving their young athlete the opportunity to play while sacrificing so much.