For 9-year-old Boston, the baseball field is more than a place to watch a game; it’s where he gets to be part of a team.
Living with a heart condition, Boston has faced challenges that many children his age never have to think about. But since being matched with the California State University, San Bernardino Baseball team through Team IMPACT in 2024, he’s found something every child deserves, a place where he feels welcomed, celebrated, and included.
One teammate, Conner, helped make that feeling possible every step of the way. He has made it his mission to ensure Boston knows he isn’t just on the roster, but he is a key member of the team.
Whether it’s before the first pitch, during the game, or after the final out, Conner goes out of his way to make Boston feel special. Through simple acts of kindness and genuine friendship, he’s created moments that remind Boston he belongs alongside his teammates.
“Our teammate should win because they always make Boston feel special on the baseball field,” Boston’s family shared. “They have made my son feel like a part of the team!”
Sometimes, the biggest impact doesn’t come from grand gestures.
It’s found in the high fives after practice. The conversations in the dugout. The smiles shared between the innings. The intentional moments when someone takes the time to make another person feel seen.
That’s exactly what Conner has done for Boston, by welcoming him as a teammate rather than a visitor, Conner has helped create an environment where Boston can simply enjoy being a kid, laughing with friends, celebrating the team’s successes, and making memories that will last long after the season ends.
At Team IMPACT, that’s what friendship is all about.
It’s choosing to include someone without hesitation. It’s making room for another teammate in every huddle, every celebration, and every shared experience. It’s showing up consistently so that someone else knows they matter.
For Boston, Cal State San Bernardino Baseball has become more than just a team to cheer for.
It’s become another family.
And thanks to friends like Conner, every trip to the ballpark is a reminder that the best teams aren’t just built on talent but that they’re built on kindness, inclusion, and the friendships that make everyone feel like they belong.