Each game of catch is a small victory for Dustin Baker and his father, since surviving a vicious attack in 2004.
"It could have just tore us apart and it didn't. It made us stronger actually... " Baker said.
Darren Baker and his wife were asleep in their Madera home when they woke up to find Patrick booth standing over them with a baseball bat. The white supremacist terrorized the family for 24 hours, beating Darren and drugging 11-year- old, Dustin. Booth was arrested one month later in Reno.
"It made me really stronger as a person, more outgoing, because that could have been the end of it," Baker said.
Dustin showed his strength by testifying against Booth in 2005, helping to send him to prison for life. Since then, the talented athlete has used the attack as motivation for his future.
"After having that happen to me, it's always going to be there in the back of my head. So I just live every moment of my life to the fullest."
The 18-year-old just graduated from Liberty High School. He also earned league "pitcher of the year honors." And that's not all.
Dustin's stellar senior season at Liberty High School has earned him a spot in Sunday's City-County All-Star Game.
The game will be played at Fresno's Chukchansi Park.
"I've always wanted to play there, go there to watch the Grizzlies, so getting to play there should be really fun."
It will also be a proud moment for Dustin's father. "I'm gonna be real happy, my whole family is gonna be happy. Just to see him out there playing is going to be a real joy for us."
Dustin is hoping to catch the eye of recruiters at the game, but for now his plan is to make the team at Fresno City College. And his sights are set on the big leagues.
"Your dream team, who would you love to play for?" "Giants, San Francisco Giants, since I was born, Giants fan. That's the ultimate goal right there, Giants."
