ATASCOCITA, Texas – For Sawyer Egan, baseball has always been more than a game. Now, the 11th-grade student at Atascocita High School is turning that passion into a global effort to expand opportunities for young athletes thousands of miles away.
Egan founded “Double Play,” an initiative focused on collecting and repurposing used baseball equipment for children in African countries where access to the sport is limited or nonexistent.
“I’ve played baseball my entire life, and this organization is an opportunity for me to give that opportunity to others,” Egan said. “It’s not just about catching and throwing, it’s about leadership, teamwork and perseverance.”
The idea took shape after Egan connected with Max Bobholes, founder of Angels at Bat, which works to grow the sport in Africa. Through that connection, Egan learned that in places like Kenya, baseball equipment is nearly impossible to find.
“In Kenya, there wasn’t a single location where you could purchase baseball gear,” Egan said. “That contrast really motivated me.”
Double Play now aims to distribute equipment to youth teams in six African countries, helping fuel a growing interest in the sport.
One of those connections is with the Community Braves, a team in Uganda. Egan regularly exchanges training videos with players there, offering drills and encouragement from Texas while receiving updates on their progress.
In one moment that underscored the initiative’s impact, Egan said he received a video of players standing in line, introducing themselves while holding gloves donated from local families.
“It really put it into perspective,” he said. “These are gloves that came from our garages, and they’re changing lives.”
Egan hopes the initiative highlights how small actions can create meaningful change.
“Donating a single baseball can impact someone halfway across the world,” he said.
The effort has drawn strong support from the Atascocita community, including classmates, coaches, family members and administrators within Humble Independent School District.
Egan said that support has been essential to bringing Double Play to life and expanding its reach.
“I definitely could not have done this by myself,” he said. “The community here has been incredible.”
As the initiative grows, Egan hopes his work will inspire other students to pursue their own ideas for service.
“I hope it shows that effort can grow into a tangible impact,” he said. “And maybe it encourages another high school student to take that first step.”