JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. \u2013 As baseball season winds down, some Jacksonville Beach little leaguers are chasing a dream that stretches far beyond their home field.<\/p>\n
The Barracudas, a 12-and-under all-star team also known as Jax Beach Riley<\/a>, have earned an invitation to play next summer in Cooperstown, New York, where they will compete against teams from across the country.<\/p>\n The road to get here has been anything but easy.<\/p>\n For players like 12-year-old Brayden Stephens, baseball is more than just a game \u2014 it\u2019s a triumph. <\/p>\n When Brayden was just 3 years old, he was diagnosed with kidney cancer. His mother, Kara Stephens, has a vivid memory of his chemotherapy that still makes her emotional.<\/p>\n \u201cThe realest part for me, I was giving him a bath, and it was just chunks of this beautiful hair just coming out,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Brayden remembers that time, too.<\/p>\n \u201cI was just\u2026 I was feeling miserable,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n His mother worried he\u2019d never be able to run or play like other kids. Today, six seasons later, he\u2019s thriving on the baseball field alongside his teammates.<\/p>\n He\u2019s not the only player who has had to fight his way back to the game. <\/p>\n Teammate Bo Miller underwent open-heart surgery around the same time Brayden was battling cancer. Now he\u2019s back in action, swinging for the fences.<\/p>\n While some players have battled life-threatening illnesses, others face financial challenges. The team must raise more than $24,000 to cover registration for Cooperstown. To help make the trip possible, the kids have been holding car washes and other fundraisers. Some of the players\u2019 sisters have even donated their babysitting money.<\/p>\n Still, their determination is unwavering. For Brayden, the chance to step onto that field means everything.<\/p>\n \u201cI mean, to see from being sick to this\u2026 it\u2019s kinda crazy,\u201d he said. \u201cIt feels good. That\u2019s all I gotta say.\u201d<\/p>\n For Team Riley, Cooperstown represents more than just baseball. It\u2019s proof that perseverance pays off.<\/p>\n The team is one of two hoping to represent the Jacksonville Beach Baseball Association at the tournament. <\/p>\n Supporters can help Jax Beach Riley reach its $24,000 fundraising goal through an online fundraiser.<\/a><\/p>\n Both Brayden and Bo continue to undergo medical monitoring, but as their play on the field shows, they are doing well. They can\u2019t wait to get to Cooperstown with their teammates.<\/p>\n Copyright 2025 by WJXT News4JAX – All rights reserved.<\/p>\n