BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) – Hundreds of baseball players from around the Bryan-College Station area gathered in Bryan Saturday to do more than just play ball; they’re also raising funds for their fellow Little Leaguers.
Travis Fields at Midtown Park was filled with baseball gloves, Louiseville sluggers, and lots of green to represent the late Easton Root at the third annual Play for Easton tournament.
“We started this foundation and the tournament after our son died of a liver disease almost three years ago. So the main reason we have this tournament is our fundraiser for the year, for the Play For Easton Foundation,” explained Brad Root, Easton’s father and founder of Play for Easton.
The ‘Play for Easton’ foundation’s goal is to raise money to support local kids’ sport-based camps, travel teams, equipment, and more, all in the name is Easton Root.
Easton Root passed away at 9 years old in 2022, and since then, his parents have worked hard to make sure other kids his age can take part in the sports he loved playing.
“A lot of children weren’t afforded the opportunity to play on these travel ball teams due to financials. It‘s very expensive to play on these teams. So what we do is we provide assistance to any kid who wants to play on any of these teams or play any type of sport, that’s what today is about,” furthered Brad Root.
Lacey Baze, A friend of the Root family and mother of Brazos Baze, who used to be teammates with Easton, said today means more than just bringing home the gold. To her, the day felt like a full circle moment, seeing her son representing his friend to help other kids play the sport they shared a passion for.
“It’s really special for me this year because my son is actually playing in the tournament for the first time. And so I, you know, seeing him out there with his ‘Play for Easton’ socks is just, you know, it’s kind of incredible,”
The foundation works to keep up a legacy Easton left behind, taking care of others and being a friend to all.
“He was friends with everybody, and he always looked out for, you know, the kids who maybe… he could tell that they might need his friendship. There’s a buddy bench, actually, at his school, like in his memory. So just for him to be able to help people even now is tremendous and amazing,“ shared Lacy Baze.
The ‘Play for Eason’ foundation has already helped around 50 kids in the area play the sports they love in Easton’s honor, and this year, the foundation has already raised thousands to fund even more.
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