Most of us are no strangers to the devastation that has occurred in Japan in the last few months.

Many young children there were adversely affected, young baseball players included.

Many players have lost family members, friends, and homes in addition to their baseball fields and local teams.

While nothing can erase the gravity of the situation, three Japanese high schools have made an effort to join together to put the teams on the field for their regional and national tournaments.

The Fukushima High School Baseball Association must check the radiation levels each day to make sure that the fields close to the reactors will not expose the players to dangerous situations, but the boys play on.

The article in the New York Times explains that baseball has provided the students with an “equilibrium” after multiple tragedies. Noriyuki Sampei, a coach from Soma Nogyo, agrees:

The players don’t feel sorry for themselves. They just acknowledge the reality of what they can do right now, which is to try to do as thorough a job as possible.”

On this side of the Pacific another feel good story  hit the baseball diamond.

At the recent Major League All Star game, Home Run Derby winner Robinson Cano had his father, former pitcher Jose Cano, help him get the winning shots. According to an article on MLB.com, Cano has embraced his father’s role in his record-breaking victory.

I don’t want to say that I won the trophy. I want to say that my dad has won the trophy.”

Cano and all the other Major leaguers get back to work this week after the All Star break. Cato will pit his home run hitting prowess against Toronto pitcher Jo-Jo Reyes tonight, who currently has the lowest ERA in his career.

If you’re looking for a great summer read, pick up Outcasts United by Warren St. James. The book tells the story refugees in Clarkston, Georgia who band together on a soccer team called the Fugees and transition together to American life.