As a 23-year-old with mounds of responsibilities, I enjoy thinking about the times when life was less difficult.
     I think back to when I was a grade school kid, before it was important to dress or act a certain way, and the most important decision I made on a daily basis was how to spend my recess.
     Ever since I can remember, sports have brought the most joy in my life. I was always the quarterback during our recess super bowls at school, before being assigned to the offensive line during our first year of tackle football in the seventh grade.
     At home, I would wear out the basketball court, playing for hours every night, and I would hit rocks with a two-by-four, pretending I was Edgar Martinez.
     After taking in two youth baseball tournaments in consecutive weekends - the Okanogan All-Star Tournament June 7-8 and the Omak Invitational June 14-15 - I got to thinking about my own Little League days.
     I played the hot corner, third base. As with most Little League teams, the better players were in the infield. Right field was designated for the nose-pickers and butterfly-chasers.
     As a kid just looking to have a fun time, I was oblivious to the proper attire. I wore jeans instead of baseball pants with my Pizza Factory-sponsored shirt up until the fifth grade. The dress code wasn't what was important, creating memories was.
     "As we grow up, we tend to forget things, but I haven't forgotten the memories I made during Little League," said Omak Youth Baseball board member and coach Juan Martinez. "It's more than just baseball. It's about the camaraderie between the kids and the experiences."
     I have always been competitive at everything I do, so winning was important to me. But not as important as to what flavor of Capri Sun was waiting for us after the game.
     See, when I was a kid, winning took a back seat. Don't get me wrong, going home victorious was a good feeling, but it wasn't why I played. I played for the parents in the crowd, cheering us on, and the sunflower seeds and pizza after the game.
     "I like to play with my friends and just have fun," said 11-year-old Jacob Lawson of Omak. "And I like to play against other towns and teams."
     Our road trips consisted of traveling the 10 miles from Deer Park to Loon Lake to play the out-of-towners. Our parents would haul us in their vans and SUVs.
     I would catch a ride with my best friend Ben's mom, Kim, who would later earn the title of my "baseball mom."
     One memory sticks out above the rest. It was in fifth grade, my team and Ben's team, vying for the championship.
     With the score tied in the bottom of the final inning, Ben was at third base, where I was playing. Our pitcher threw home and the ball got past the catcher and I hopelessly watched as Ben took off and scored the winning run.
     To this day, Ben still reminds me of the time he swiped home and took the championship in the fifth grade.
     It must have meant something to him, too.