Pecos League Begins 15th Season Across Mountain, Desert, Plains

Baseball continues to play a transformative role across a spectrum of experiences in 2025, from grassroots leagues to personal redemption stories. The Pecos League marks its 15th season as a rugged, independent professional baseball circuit that preserves traditional play without a Designated Hitter, even staging exhibition games against unique teams like the San Quentin Prison Giants. San Quentin's baseball team, active for over a century, hosted its first alumni game where formerly incarcerated players reunited, illustrating baseball's power as a tool for discipline and hope beyond prison walls. Former MLB star Darryl Strawberry is shifting focus from his celebrated career and struggles with addiction to a Christian ministry, co-authoring a book about this new chapter. Meanwhile, young talent Joseph Zamora, hailing from a family deeply rooted in baseball, is advancing his career from Miami to Boone, adapting to new environments as he pursues his athletic ambitions. These stories collectively highlight baseball's enduring impact on identity, resilience, and community at multiple levels.