I am a very proud Dad today.

Around 8:30 Sunday night, I received a call from Carman Little League to inform me that my son, Steven, is an All-Star! He was one of 13 players from the Farm Division named to the All-Star team. Those players will represent Carman in the District 12 Farm Division All-Start tournament, which will start in mid-July. Rotterdam Little League is hosting this year's tournament. Carman is the defending champion.

Steven, who is with Rollerama, has played very well this season, his second at the Farm level. He is confident in what he does. He hits the ball hard. Earlier this season, I wrote about his first homer of his career. He hasn’t hit another one since, but he continues to make solid contact.

He was 3-for-4 with an RBI Friday against Rotterdam PBA. His RBI single in the bottom of the fourth triggered a three-run inning that rallied Rollerama to a 3-3 tie, a game in which we (yes, we, since I help coach!) had only eight players. On Saturday, he had a pair of RBI singles to help Rollerama beat Just Picture It, 3-2.

Steven plays first base, and he is proving to be a good fielder. He has made some nice catches, including two in Saturday’s game. He is also pitching, and has become the closer. Steven has nicknamed himself "Brad Rivera," combining Phillies closer Brad Lidge and Yankees closer Mariano Rivera. It's cute.

Steven loves baseball. He roots for the Phillies and the Red Sox. He used to like the Yankees, but switched his American League allegiances this year. Why, I don't know. He is always asking questions about game situations, and even the history of the game when he sees some of the documentaries on MLB Network. He's like that with hockey, too.

The Carman Farm Division double-elimination playoffs start Monday. Steven and his team play Thursday. I wish them all the success in the world.