Growing up, Little League® played a prominent role in my life. As a six-year-old, I played for the Mighty Islanders at Spring Valley Little League (Las Vegas, Nev.). I still remember learning the fundamentals of the game, enjoying snacks after practice, and laughing in the dugout with my teammates. While these memories will stick with me forever, it is the lessons I learned throughout my journey that influence how I teach the game to my kids today.
The beautiful thing about Little League is that it not only builds a strong sense of community, but it also allows for growth as an individual. Baseball and softball aren’t always about sunshine, rainbows, and glory; they are games that require resilience in the face of struggle and adversity.
One of my proudest, yet most challenging parenting moments early in my coaching career was when my oldest child, Brooks, was upset during a game we were losing. He’s a competitive kid and always wants to help his team win, but he was having a tough game and had a small outburst. Instead of embarrassing him, I turned it into a teaching moment. Emphasizing the importance of holding ourselves accountable for our actions, I had him write an apology letter that he read aloud to his teammates and coaches.
He may not have appreciated it in the moment, but experiences like that have strengthened our relationship. My kids – Brooks, Fox, and Sage – have taught me more about being a better coach and father through our Little League experience than I ever could have imagined. After games, they are honest with me and will tell me if I have overstepped. What I admire most is that they’re never afraid to communicate. Those honest conversations and mutual respect have helped our relationships grow on and off the field.
At the end of the day, it’s never just about winning or how one individual performs; it’s about making sure everyone is having a positive and fun Little League experience, regardless of the score.
The Championship Run
Since our incredible run to the 2025 Little League Baseball® World Series Championship game, everyone always asks me what my favorite moment was. Honestly, my favorite moments didn’t come from what we did on the field. They came from all the behind-the-scenes downtime that we had.
As a team, we shared so many moments: inside jokes, travelling during the region tournament, laughing in the Grove, and just enjoying each other’s company between games. Those are the experiences that brought us closer together. But nothing was more special than getting to share it all with our community, our families, and, specifically for me, Brooks.
Now, I said that my top memories don’t come from the on-field action, but there is one that will forever be enshrined in my memory. Late in a game against the Southeast team, with our tournament life on the line, Brooks worked a four-pitch walk, and Cache followed with a looped base hit into center just before Garrett stepped up to the plate.
Garrett smacked the ball, and it felt like everything just slowed down, as you see in the movies. I looked around the field and watched the reactions from the three boys as they rounded the bases. The raw emotion as they jumped up and down and celebrated while the rest of the team waited for them at home plate –it was magical.
That moment captures everything that our World Series run meant to both the players and coaches. The moments, the emotion, the glee, the relief, everything good about the Little League program was felt in that moment.
Advice to Little League Parents
I think many of us, me included, live a little vicariously through our kids, and you don’t get a lot of shots at that. I am lucky that I have my three boys, and I have gotten to experience those moments with them and to share their dreams.
As we share these memories with them, it is important to remember that we are the adults. Let your kids have their moments, both the successes and the failures, with their teammates and coaches.
The fence is in front of you for a reason. You’re on the other side of it, so enjoy the moment from your side. Be proud, but don’t try to control or influence it beyond offering encouragement. Cheer for your team, appreciate the great plays, and support the effort and sportsmanship that make the game special.
Whenever I meet new coaches in my league, I always tell them that this is the best time of their lives. Watching your kids grow within a program that teaches such strong values is an incredible experience. Take it all in, stay involved in your community, and cherish every moment as your kids create lifelong memories.
NOTE: If you know of a Little League graduate who would fit into any of these categories and is not listed, please complete the Little League Alumni Submission form. To learn more about former Little Leaguers who have gone on to incredible careers, visit LittleLeague.org/Alumni.