For many young boys, few things in life can compare with a night at the ball park. The smell of the concession stand, the whirl of activity, the sight of grown- up boys trotting out onto the field to show them how it’s done. For one group from Powhatan, last Friday night featured all of that—and more. The young men of the Powhatan Slammers travel baseball team, a USSSA team for players age 12 and under, were the Richmond Braves’ team of the night. This meant that they got the chance to go out on the field before the game, get autographs, and even stand on the field with the players during the national anthem. And there was one more surprise: former American Idol contestant, and Richmond native, Elliot Yamin was at the game to sign autographs and sing the National Anthem.

After the last strains of The Star Spangled Banner faded away — and after Yamin had come over to high-five the Powhatan team — the young players were ushered back to their seats with autographed baseballs and memories they’ll no doubt cherish for a lifetime. Perhaps, also, this new thought to ponder: If the baseball career they’ve been considering doesn’t work out, the life of singing sensation might be just as nice.

View Photo Gallery: The Powhatan Slammers at the Diamond