Play Ball!
- Ross Berry
- Apr 4
- 10 min read
Hope Springs Eternal…
When springtime comes around, the whole world opens up. All things seem possible. A fresh start. A new beginning. The baseball season is upon us – giving rise to dreams of glory and great achievement. And there is a certain energy that percolates. An electric vibe that we feel and cannot help but transmit to all those who are around us. It’s springtime and there is a magic, positive spirit in the air.
In small towns across America, springtime is celebrated with a sense of community that is palpable. Local festivals often mark the arrival of this vibrant season. When families and friends come together to enjoy these festivities, they share in the magic of spring, creating lasting memories steeped in a sense of belonging and joy.
The thrill of the baseball season also brings its own special magic. Children and adults alike are filled with aspirations of victory and teamwork. So many towns across the country host Little League games, where excited parents cheer from the sidelines. Conjures up the image of young future star players proudly wearing their caps and digging their feet into home plate, dreaming of becoming the next baseball legend. Hope and ambition are fully on display.
Moreover, spring just simply brings the revival of the human spirit. Spring cleaning traditions take hold as people clear out the old to make way for the new. Whether it’s dusting off cherished heirlooms
or planting vegetables in the garden, the act of renewal extends beyond the natural world and into our daily lives. It is during this time that families come together to cultivate their gardens, sharing stories and laughter while fostering bonds that grow as surely as their plants.
The magic of springtime creates a collective feeling of optimism and possibility that touches every corner of small-town America. As the days warm up, neighborhoods come alive with impromptu gatherings and backyard barbecues, where laughter and conversation dance among friends and neighbors. Festivals celebrating local produce, arts, and crafts further enrich the tapestry of community spirit. In this wonderful time of year, it’s easy to believe that the
possibilities are endless, and dreams can indeed take flight as we anticipate the warmth and vibrancy of summer ahead.
Springtime holds a unique magic that resonates deeply in the heart of our great country, particularly within its small towns. Let us celebrate its arrival and cherish the opportunities it presents, knowing that brighter days are just around the corner!
The Community Power of Little League Baseball
Spring is finally here. The snow has melted, the grass is greening, and across small towns everywhere, the unmistakable sound of cleats crunching on gravel fills the air. It’s baseball season!
For kids stepping up to the plate, Little League is about more than just batting averages and stolen bases. Its about long afternoons spent with friends, laughing in the dugout over sunflower seed challenges and bubble gum competitions. It’s the nervous excitement of stepping up to bat, the sting of a well-hit ball on a cool April afternoon, and the satisfying thud of a glove snapping shut around a pop fly. It’s post-game ice cream, team chants, and that first surge of pride when a coach claps a hand on your shoulder and says, “Nice play, kid.”
But behind every pitch thrown and every game won, there’s a team of unsung heroes making it all possible.
The Game Behind the Game
Most people don’t realize how much effort goes into making Little League baseball happen. While kids are practicing their swings, parents, volunteers, and local businesses are working behind the scenes to bring the season to life. Securing fields isn’t as simple as just showing up with a glove. Town parks departments coordinate schedules, leagues negotiate practice slots, and volunteers show up early to rake the dirt, paint the foul lines, and set up bases. Umpires—often parents, teachers, or retired players—donate their time to ensure games are both fair and fun.
Then there’s the fundraising. Jerseys, bats, helmets, and catcher’s gear don’t pay for themselves. Bake sales, car washes, and raffles help, but the real lifeblood of many leagues comes from local businesses. The diner on Main Street, the hardware store that’s been around for decades, and the auto shop down the road—they sponsor teams, hang banners on outfield fences, and donate generously to help keep registration costs down.
And of course, there are the coaches. Moms, dads, and neighbors step up—often with no formal training—just a love for the game and a willingness to teach. They spend hours organizing lineups, running drills, and reminding kids that winning isn’t everything. They teach perseverance after a strikeout, teamwork after a tough loss, and sportsmanship in every handshake across home plate.
A Community Effort
Little League is more than just a pastime—it’s a pillar of small-town life. It’s where kids learn life lessons, where families gather on warm spring evenings, and where a town’s spirit is on full display. It’s a reminder that in an era dominated by screens and packed schedules, some of the best childhood memories are still made on a sun-drenched ball field, with a glove in one hand and a dream in the other.
So as the season kicks off, take a moment to appreciate not just the players, but the entire community that makes it all possible. Because in towns across America, Little League baseball isn’t just a game—it’s a tradition, a rite of passage, and a powerful example of people coming together for something bigger than themselves.
Play Ball!
April Showers Bring May Flowers!
April—and its signature showers—ushers in a short but essential season, preparing both us and the earth for the vibrant bloom of spring. The lingering chill of winter finally gives way to brighter, warmer days. Time spent outdoors with friends and family, planting in the garden, and the scent of summer barbecues all begin to feel just within reach. Major League Baseball is swinging into full gear, and kids are heading outside to play sports, embracing the energy of the changing season.
The increased movement and activity of summer are easy to recognize—they’re visible and measurable. But the familiar saying, “April showers bring May flowers,” carries a deeper, more spiritual meaning. It reminds us that life is full of peaks and valleys. More often than not, our greatest storms come just before our most beautiful breakthroughs. This simple phrase speaks to the virtues of patience, resilience, and persistence—both in sports and in life.
A few legendary athletes exemplify this truth. April marks the beginning of the MLB season, but even the best players sometimes struggle before hitting their stride. Take Derek Jeter, for example: in April 2004, he endured a brutal slump, batting just .168, with critics calling for changes. But when May arrived, he found his rhythm, finishing the season at .292 and leading the Yankees to the playoffs. His slow start didn’t define his season—instead, it was his patience and persistence, the May flowers, that told the real story.
Michael Jordan’s path to greatness followed a similar arc. Before becoming a six-time NBA champion, he experienced years of frustration. His Chicago Bulls were repeatedly eliminated from the playoffs in the late ’80s, often by the relentless Detroit Pistons. In April 1990, Jordan and the Bulls fell once again in the Eastern Conference Finals. But by May 1991, after years of relentless effort, Jordan finally broke through, winning his first NBA championship. His struggles had laid the foundation for his eventual success.
Too often, we dismiss rainy days as gloomy or unpleasant. Yet without the rain, there would be no spring bloom. In life, as in nature, our greatest growth often follows our most difficult storms. When we shift our perspective, we can see these challenges not as setbacks, but as essential steps toward the success and beauty that lie just beyond them.
So, the next time you face an April shower—literal or metaphorical—remember: May flowers are just around the corner.
A Special Town: Fort Myers – Springtime Home of the Red Sox
Spring training in Fort Myers, Florida, serves as a proving ground for both seasoned veterans and rising stars aiming to make an impact in Major League Baseball. Players bring their "internal flame"—a relentless drive and deep commitment—to showcase their skills and earn a spot on the roster. For young talent, it's a chance for scouts and coaches to assess raw potential, work ethic, and adaptability. It’s a time when unknown players can break through and veterans can fine-tune their game, proving they still belong.
Beyond the field, spring training has a significant impact on Fort Myers’ economy. The city hosts two MLB teams during the season—the Boston Red Sox at JetBlue Park and the Minnesota Twins at Hammond Stadium. The economic boost from these teams, their fans, and the seasonal influx of tourists is substantial. According to a 2018 study by the Florida Sports Foundation, spring training contributes nearly $687 million annually to Florida’s economy, with Fort Myers among the most positively affected cities. Hotel occupancy rates surge, restaurants and bars fill up, and local businesses see major revenue increases. In Lee County alone, spring training brings an estimated $69 million in economic impact each year.
Spring training has also played a role in shaping Fort Myers’ long-term growth. Investments in sports facilities, hotels, and infrastructure have helped transform the area into a hub for both sports and tourism. JetBlue Park, modeled after Fenway Park, is more than just a ballpark—it’s a major attraction that draws Red Sox fans from across the country. This influx has driven up property values, spurred new business development, and created year-round tourism opportunities beyond the baseball season.
At its core, spring training represents perseverance and ambition—players pushing their limits, coaches refining strategies, and fans fueling the excitement. The community of Fort Myers thrives on that same energy, with baseball continuing to drive both economic prosperity and local pride. The "internal flame" that ignites the players mirrors the passion of the city itself, making spring training more than just a preseason warm-up—it’s a cultural and economic powerhouse.
Play Ball! Sports Are Supposed to Be Fun
Adam Doucette’s ‘Default Positive’ Mindset
There’s something special about sports that goes beyond wins and losses. Sports bring people together, create unforgettable moments, and remind us why we fell in love with the game in the first place. Adam Doucette recognized this early on. But when he looked at the landscape of modern sports media, he noticed something was missing. Too much of the coverage focused on the negative—hot takes, controversy, and outrage-driven headlines that drowned out what have made sports truly great. Rather than accept that as the norm, Adam decided to change the game.
In May 2024, he launched Default Positive, a sports media brand built on a simple belief: sports are supposed to be fun.
A Massachusetts native and lifelong Boston sports fan, Adam’s passion for sports started early. While attending Northeastern University in Boston, his love for the Celtics and the city’s rich sports culture continued to grow. But for Adam, it wasn’t just about cheering for his favorite teams—it was about celebrating the moments that make sports meaningful. With a deep interest in entrepreneurship and creativity, he knew he wanted to build something of his own. He saw a clear gap in the market: fans like him were tired of negativity in sports media and wanted a place to celebrate the good in the game.
That vision became Default Positive, and it quickly struck a chord. In less than a year, the Instagram account alone has grown to nearly 22,000 followers, with fans rallying around its refreshing take on sports content. Adam’s success proves he’s not alone—many are exhausted by the constant negativity in sports coverage.
Default Positive shines a spotlight on the uplifting, inspiring, and downright fun moments that deserve more attention. The goal isn’t to ignore reality, but to provide balance. As the brand continues to grow, Adam hopes to collaborate directly with athletes—because if fans are tired of the negativity, the players living in it every day feel it even more.
For Adam, positivity doesn’t mean ignoring tough moments. He understands that criticism and difficult conversations are part of the media landscape. But he also believes there should be space to celebrate what’s great about sports—the skill, the effort, the human spirit. By focusing on those moments, Default Positive isn’t just offering a new take on sports media—it’s reminding us all why we fell in love with sports in the first place.
Check out Adam’s content: Instagram, Facebook, TikTok: @defaultpositive
YouTube: @default-positive
Positive Profile of the Week: New Hampshire’s Baseball Legacy: From Small-Town Diamonds to the Big Leagues
This week we are delighted to highlight the many outstanding Granite State baseball stars who have made it to the big leagues and made New Hampshire proud!
The Granite State has quietly made its mark on baseball, with nearly 100 players reaching the big leagues.
One of New Hampshire’s baseball hotbeds is Penacook, a suburb just north of Concord. Two notable MLB players—Red Rolfe and Bob Tewksbury—graduated from high school there. Rolfe attended what was then Penacook High School, while Tewksbury graduated from Merrimack Valley High School there. Another major leaguer, Joe Lefebvre, also lived in Penacook for a time but graduated from Concord High School.
About an hour and a half west, the small town of Charlestown, NH, is home to perhaps the most famous player from the state—Hall of Fame catcher Carlton Fisk. Fisk’s clutch home run in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series serves as one of the all-time great moments in baseball history!
Rich Gale graduated from Littleton High School and after UNH, went on to play for four major league teams. At 6 feet and 7 inches tall, he was also a basketball star in high school. I remember playing against him at Newport High School and being hopelessly outmatched.
Meanwhile, here’s a fun fact. Ossipee, NH produced Fred Brown, who not only played professional baseball but also went on to serve as both Governor and U.S. Senator for New Hampshire. In fact, the state’s baseball legacy stretches even further back with Daniel “Doc” Adams of Mount Vernon. Playing as early as the 1840’s, Adams is credited with creating the shortstop position, cementing his place in baseball history.
Although New Hampshire has produced its share of Major League talent, none of its players got to play in our home state – as of course, New Hampshire has no MLB team of its own. Instead, local baseball fans rally behind the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, a Minor League affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays for the past 22 years.
But the state’s connection to Canadian baseball runs even deeper. Harry Frazee, the infamous Boston Red Sox owner who traded Babe Ruth to the Yankees, was a frequent guest at the Balsams Resort in Dixville Notch. Legend has it that the deal was signed there, though records confirm it was finalized in New York in December 1919.
Just a few years later, the resort was purchased by J.J. Lannin, the first Canadian-born owner of the Red Sox. His journey was as remarkable as any ballplayer’s—once an orphan with nothing to his name, Lannin walked nearly 400 miles to Boston, found work as a hotel bellboy, and eventually built a fortune in real estate and commodities.
Baseball isn’t just about the players on the field—it’s about the dreamers, the risk-takers, and the unlikely connections that shape the game’s history. And as New Hampshire’s story proves, sometimes the biggest plays happen far from the diamond.
Quote of the Week: Play Ball
"The magic of spring is like the magic of baseball—the promise of new beginnings and the excitement of what is possible." — Unknown
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