Field Of Dreams Series Allows High School Athletes To ‘Feel Like A Big-Leaguer’
Apr 29, 2025, 7:49 PM | Updated: Apr 30, 2025, 1:04 pm
The Mountain Ridge Sentinels hosted the Bingham Miners at The Ballpark at America First Square on Tuesday, April 29, 2025 in the Field of Dreams series. (Brian Preece)
(Brian Preece)
SOUTH JORDAN, Utah – “The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball,” James Earl Jones said to Kevin Costner in Field of Dreams. “This field, this game — it’s a part of our past, Ray. It reminds us of all that once was good, and it could be again.”
People don’t stop playing because they get old; people get old when they stop playing. Get out from behind the screens, go outside, and experience all that life has to offer. That was the message on Tuesday afternoon as the Bingham Miners and Mountain Ridge Sentinels played in the High School ‘Field of Dreams Series’ at The Ballpark at America First Square.
“We want to lean into youth sports in the state of Utah and get people the opportunity to have experiences, big league experiences,” Field of Dreams Series Director Dustin Dehlin said of the event.
Before throwing out the first pitch, First Lady Abby Cox encouraged more than 4,000 fifth and sixth-grade students in attendance to stay active, outside, and engaged with their community.
The 2025 ‘Field of Dreams Series’ in the @BallparkatAFS continued today with @mtridgebaseball hosting @MINER_Baseball pic.twitter.com/pZeZHWwWVk
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) April 29, 2025
“I’m so proud of you for being here,” the First Lady said to the screaming youngsters. “For being able to be outside. To play. To watch these guys play. I think you should put down your phones, play more, be healthy, and be outside.”
The Miners and Sentinels were the second of five games on the 2025 schedule. The Davis Darts and Weber Warriors also renewed their Region 1 rivalry at The Ballpark on April 29.
Last week, Corner Canyon and Herriman christened The Ballpark with its first prep game.
“The playing surface is perfect,” Mountain Ridge assistant coach and 11-year MLB veteran John Buck said. “The day is perfect. You can see the boys get amped. There’s a little more on their throws, a little more on their swings. The boys feel it, and that’s why we came. To feel like a big leaguer for a bit.”
Two games on Thursday, May 1, will feature Maple Mountain taking on Salem Hills. In the nightcap, Fremont faces Syracuse.
Field of Dreams Series expected to expand in the future
Miller Sports + Entertainment anticipates expanding the program in future years, providing Utah high schoolers with the experience of a lifetime.
“This is really exciting for these kids,” Dehlin said of the opportunity to play in a Triple-A stadium. “We want to lean into the community and allow teams to come out and enjoy something amazing with us. That’s what we want: to open our doors and really bring the community together, welcoming everyone out here.”
“For the Bees to open it up and let these high school kids play here, it says a lot for the organization and what they’re doing for our community.” John Buck
Following the quintet of games in 2025, doubling the slate in future years is the current goal.
“We wanted to create something that’s memorable for fans,” Dehlin continued. “It’s a gathering place for the community to come together from all over the state of Utah, creating experiences and memorable moments for fans to come out and enjoy with us. For us to see these kids, fans, and parents experiencing the excitement they’re having, this is why we built it. There are 75 Bees baseball games, which are incredible, and we’re thrilled for that season, but there’s also a lot more to it. We want to create wonderful memories and experiences for families throughout Utah, bringing people together.”
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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.
