'Making new memories': Family duos drive West Suburban 14U into Junior League Softball World Series
· Yahoo Sports
There’s a notion that children with parents as coaches have it easy in youth sports.
Guaranteed playing time and preferable treatment are among the reasons why some will always believe this theory.
Visit freshyourfeel.org for more information.
However, that is not the case with the West Suburban 14-Under softball team. Tough love at times builds discipline and mental toughness. The local squad made up of athletes from Cambria and Somerset counties has three father-daughter duos on the team. Rick Roberts is the manager and is assisted by Ron Mash and Rick Westover.
Daughters Cameron Mash, Bryn Roberts and Camdyn Westover each play key roles on the team that will begin play in the Junior League Softball World Series at 4 p.m. Sunday against Canada in Kirkland, Washington.
“It’s really cool, but he’s definitely harder on me than everybody else,” Bryn Roberts said. “It’s really awesome because my brothers got to do it with my dad and now I get to do it.”
Bryn’s older brothers Brody Roberts and Bryce Roberts have competed in various baseball World Series under the direction of Rick Roberts as coach. Brody played in the 2018 Pony-13 World Series, while Bryce competed in the 2018 11-Under Cal Ripken World Series and 2019 Pony-13 World Series.
“My brothers both went and all of my cousins,” Bryn Roberts said. “I finally get to go, so it’s really exciting because it’s not just something everyday people get to do.”
Brody Roberts and Bryce Roberts play on the Mainline Pharmacy team that will begin play in the 81st All American Amateur Baseball Association Tournament Monday. The duo helped the team win the 2025 national title, beating city rival Martella’s Pharmacy, with Brody Roberts earning tournament MVP while also being named this year’s league MVP. Brody Roberts was also a member of the 2023 AAABA Tournament championship squad.
For Rick Roberts – who pitched at the Triple-A level within the Los Angeles Dodgers’ system during his career – he has coached his sons and daughter harder than most.
“There’s a difference between dad and a coach,” Rick Roberts said. “I got to be a coach of all the kids. Unfortunately for my two boys and my daughter, they get coached a lot harder than the other kids. We’re old-school and we do coach all the girls hard.
“Sometimes, our own kids get treated a little bit different. It’s going to make them tougher. I think they understand it.
“We’re just here to get them better. When I say tough, we’re going to kick you in the butt whenever you’re screwing up in a good way, but we’re also going to pat you on the back when you do stuff right.”
‘Emotionally attached’
Rick Westover echoed Rick Roberts’ thoughts when it comes to coaching your son or daughter.
“I think it’s actually harder,” Rick Westover said. “I catch myself being harder on my daughter. I think I speak for the guys (other coaches) as well.
“When it’s your own kid, you’re emotionally attached. You catch yourself holding them to a higher standard.”
This particular West Suburban softball team has players with high character who can give their parents a sigh of relief knowing they are in good company.
“What’s nice here on this team is all of these kids are good kids,” Rick Westover said.
“You feel like you can relax with your own kid because you know she’s in good hands with the other coaches and with her teammates. I think all three of our daughters have different personalities and they play different roles on the team. They kind of complement each other.
“We’re very fortunate to have our kids in very good circles. It really takes a village and it takes the whole community in a lot of ways. We’re very blessed and fortunate to have that.”
Camdyn Westover is looking forward to making more memories in Washington as West Suburban is among the final 10 teams in the world at the 14U level playing softball.
“It’s so exciting and cool because not many people get this opportunity,” Camdyn Westover said. “It’s exciting making new memories with our teammates and it’s something we’ll look back on for the rest of our life.”
Previous coaching experience with team members has helped Rick Westover.
“I think the majority of these kids, we’ve all coached these kids at the same level or some point in the last six months or the last year or two, so we all have different rapports with different kids,” Rick Westover said.
“We all have different strengths and weaknesses as coaches and adults. I think for myself, I find myself trying to complement what the other two bring to the table. I think we do a very good job of supporting each other. I think what has helped us be so successful so quick in this journey is that we’re all on the same page and we all have the same high standards, not only for our own kids, but for all the kids.
“Everybody is rowing the boat in the same direction.”
‘Treated the same’
Ron Mash reiterated that players with fathers as coaches are not put on a pedestal.
“I think our philosophy, I think all three of us know that our daughters are a big part of the team,” Ron Mash said.
“They are treated the same.
“They are held to the same standard as everyone else.
“I think with Bryn, Camdyn and Cameron, they have to work harder to show that they belong here. If they didn’t, they wouldn’t be here. They put in the work. All three of them are leaders. All the girls look up to them.”
Ron Mash enjoys how softball allows his daughter to freely express herself.
“She’s really expressing her emotions,” Ron Mash said of Cameron Mash. “She really wants this. I learned years ago from a friend of mine, when girls feel good, they play good. We’re always trying to be upbeat. I try to be funny and positive. It really reflects on the field.”
According to Cameron Mash, Ron Mash expressed plenty of excitement after West Suburban won the East Region Tournament Monday to earn a spot in the Junior League Softball World Series.
“He’s always excited to be on the field,” Cameron Mash said.
“He said to me probably 10 times on the way back, ‘We’re going to Washington, Cam. We’re going to Washington.’
“I’m like half-asleep. I’m like, ‘Yeah, we are.’ He’s always excited, always laughing. After the game, he was crying. He loves everyone, all the girls.”
Jake Oswalt is a copy editor for The Tribune-Democrat. Follow him on Twitter @TheWizOfOz11.