Author J.C. Roberto grew up in the ballpark, where long summer nights, the rhythm of the game, and watching the Red Sox under the lights at Fenway Park shaped his love for baseball. He joins #InTheDugout to talk about those early experiences, the lessons the game teaches, and how baseball has always felt like home.

That lifelong connection inspired Roberto’s debut novel, The Big Diamond: A Baseball Story, the first in a planned series following twelve-year-old Ryan Parker as the game—and the stakes—get bigger. The book is a fast-paced, heartfelt story about leadership, pressure, friendship, and learning that winning begins long before the first pitch. It’s written for young teens standing at the edge of their next step, on the field and in life.

The Ocean State Current is Rhode Island’s fastest-growing all-digital news and information platform and the media arm of the Rhode Island Center for Freedom & Prosperity. Through original video, audio, and written content—including its flagship show #InTheDugout with Mike Stenhouse—The Current delivers news, commentary, and perspectives that corporate media often ignore, giving voice to parents, citizens, and experts committed to common-sense solutions and honest debate.