Feature: More Than Just America’s Pastime

For baseball fans, Spring Training is more than just spending an afternoon eating a hot dog and watching their favorite team play after a long off-season. It’s more than standing up and singing the seventh-inning stretch and hoping to catch a foul ball. For many, baseball has a deeper meaning and the players are not just the people they come to see, but mentors and role models.

Braves Dedicated Fan Comes For Spring Training

For Jason Dorn, a senior in high school, he is a lifelong Braves fan that comes down to Florida from Georgia every spring to watch his favorite team play ball. While Jason is unable to walk, he does not let that stop him from being apart of the game he loves. At his high school, Jason is part of the baseball team. According to Jason’s mother, Dorn’s love for baseball comes from his Grandmother who was an avid Braves fans. On Monday, March 5, at Champions Stadium, a second home for the Dorn Family, Jason was able to give the first pitch of the game.

Pirates Fan travels from Colorado for Spring Training

Dustin Robey and his son, Trevor, traveled from Colorado to Florida to watch the Pirates compete in some Spring Training action. However, the Pirates mean more to Trevor than just a team. “He has a friend on the team,” Trevor’s father said. Pirates Ryan Lavarnway is Trevor’s friend a hitting coach in Colorado. “[Lavarnway] has taught me not to dip-down.” Trevor has formed a great bond with the MLB player and is excited to watch his coach play in the major leagues.

Spring Training is more than just the American Pastime. It’s an opportunity for families to bond together, children to meet their role models and for people’s dreams to become a reality.