Emry Salazar will never forget the summer of ‘25.

The 9-year-old from Jonesburg played in not one, but four all-star games in two different states in a span of two months.

Emry played at the Lincoln County Athletic Association all-star game in June, participated in the Game 7 all-star game at Warrenton in July and went to a pair of all-star games in Illinois in August.

Emry’s father, Darryl, watched his son in all four all-star games. Darryl was Emry’s coach for the Jonesburg 9-and-under LCAA squad this summer. Emry also played for the Midwest Rebels select baseball team.

“It’s fun,” Darryl said. “I look at it like we never got to do that much as a kid. We get the best seat in the house to get to watch him live out his dream and do stuff that he loves. There’s no amount of money in the world that can replace that feeling. I know he makes us proud.”

The two all-star games Emry played at in Illinois were sponsored by JP Sports. He played in all-star contests in Peoria (Aug. 8-10) and in Bradley (Aug. 15-17).

“We paid for our own transportation and our own hotel rooms,” Darryl said. “But the fee that we pay for select, we don’t have to pay to enter our tournaments. The team does that. Then we’ll do fundraisers to help offset the cost.”

Emry represented the Rebels at the all-star games in Illinois. He got selected to the all-star contests after he turned in a strong pitching performance against a 24-win team in a tournament at Iowa.

Emry played in every position except centerfield and shortstop at the all-star games in Illinois.

“It was fun,” Emry said.

Emry competed in the Game 7 Baseball All-Star Showcase on July 26 at the Warrenton Athletic Complex. He was selected to play in the event for his strong efforts and outstanding sportsmanship during Game 7 events, which are held in Missouri, Illinois and Tennessee.

Emry played first, second and third base as well as left field and right field at the event. He said he enjoyed playing in the turf fields at Warrenton.

“It was better on turf than dirt,” Emry said.

Emry also attended the St. Louis Cardinals’ game against the San Diego Padres on July 25. He participated in the all-star on-field parade before the game.

Emry said his favorite player on the Cardinals is third baseman Nolan Arenado.

“I just liked how he plays,” Emry said.

Emry played at the LCAA all-star game for the third year in a row on June 21. The contest was held at the Hawk Point Athletic Complex. He was one of 46 players from Montgomery County who played in the all-star game.

Emry helped his Jonesburg team finish 9-4-1 and pick up a victory in the first round of the LCAA playoffs.

“It was pretty fun,” Emry said. “We battled until the end.”

Emry’s favorite positions are pitcher, first base and third base. He was taught to throw four different pitches by his Midwest Rebels pitching coach, Scott Maine, who played with the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians (now Guardians) in the early 2010s.

“I got a two-seam fastball, a four-seam fastball, a changeup and a really good knuckleball,” Emry said.

Darryl said his son – who also plays football with the Montgomery County youth football program in the fall – always looks forward to playing baseball every summer.

“There’s not a day goes by that he doesn’t have a ball or glove in his hand,” Darryl said. “He’s been doing that since he was six years old. He started out with T-ball and kind of just took off with it. He has a lot of fun.”