About Our Writers

Editor

Joe Horton is a fan owner of the Ballers, season ticket holder, writer and teacher. His work has appeared with TIME Magazine, Ploughshares, the PBS NewsHour, LA Weekly, and elsewhere.

Get involved and reach out:

joe@dispatchesfromraimondi.com

@joebhorton.bsky.social

@joebhorton

@byrnesho

Writers

Anthony Brooks is a lifelong baseball fan who enjoys attending games with his son. He is founder of Brooks Creative Photography where he focuses on high school sports photography and fine art photography. He resides in the East Bay and is a Ballers fan owner.  You can find him on Instagram.

Nick Clementi is an Oakland native and lifelong Oakland baseball fan. He enjoys long walks on the beach and summer nights at Raimondi Park. He’s a Scrappy enthusiast who doesn't believe in sacrifice bunts. Sports content moderator by day, Ballers beat writer by night. Find him on Instagram and Twitter.

Chris Drue is an East Bay native who has loved baseball since visiting the Coliseum with his dad as a kid. His favorite combo at Raimondi Park is a Fieldwork Day Money and a veggie dog (in a helmet!). His favorite pitch is the eephus, with a Barry Zito 12-6 curveball (circa 2002) a very close second. Find him on Instagram.

Alec MacDonald is an Oakland resident who has coached, coordinated, and umpired youth baseball in the East Bay. Contact him at hapakine@yahoo.com

Melody Martins has lived in the East Bay for the majority of her life and grew up a proud Oakland sports fan; Raiders, A's and Warriors. She is very active with her local Little League and believes that youth recreational sports are the heart of every community. You can reach her at melody.c.martins@gmail.com.

Dawn Pieper is an Oakland resident, B’s superfan, and leading Ballunteer. She works with animal rescues including Full Circle Cats.

Chris Rodriguez documents baseball through reporting, access, and visual storytelling rooted in the player, development, coaching, and front-office decision-making. This feature runs in collaboration with Dispatches From Raimondi and 9inningnomad. Find him on Instagram.

Roberto Santiago is a third generation Berkeley boy currently raising the fourth generation. Roberto’s writing has appeared in Latina, Parents, and various online outlets. A lifelong baseball fan, Roberto worked briefly with the Boston Red Sox and once hit an RBI single off Spaceman Lee on a 2-2 changeup. It was his only at bat ever in a real baseball game. Find him on Instagram.

Melissa Singh is the creator and host of Keya’s Room that is now Keya’s Locker Room podcast, launched in 2019, with experience in television, nonprofit media, and sports broadcasting. She previously served as a project manager for Small Stages Unplugged, works with the Oakland Ballers, and earned an AA in Digital Media. Find her on Instagram at Keyaslockeroom

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