Blue Springs players chase same dream as Royals farmhand Nick Tepesch in Ban Johnson All-Star Game

It was just last week when the Royals claimed Blue Springs product Nick Tepesch and made him a part of the organization. But three other former Blue Springs players touched the Kauffman Stadium field before Tepesch ever did in a Royals uniform.

Dillon Jackson of the Blue Springs class of 2015, Joshua Hare of 2013, and Wylson Lamb of 2012 were all part of the Ban Johnson All-Star game Sunday morning at Kauffman Stadium. And just like old times at Blue Springs, Jackson and Hare turned a double play — first to second to first, NKC Apartment Giants to Regal Plastic shortstop, Blue Springs to Blue Springs.

“Having my old shortstop over there, we knew what to do,” Hare said. “We’ve done it a lot, so that wasn’t a problem for us. I knew he’d be there.”

In a game between the B’s and the J’s, a tradition at Kauffman Stadium over the years, the J’s won 8-4 with an assist from the three former Wildcats. Beside their former teammates, they played with and against players from teams they faced in high school — two from Blue Springs South, a handful from the Lee's Summit high schools, and three more from Raymore-Peculiar.

On top of the double play, Jackson walked twice and scored once in a five-run seventh inning that pushed the J’s to victory. For Hare, who smiled when he was asked about the field, it was just about playing at Kauffman Stadium.

“It doesn’t really matter what you do,” Hare said. “It’s like playing on a turf field, but it’s a real field. We haven’t played on a field like that ever. It’s one of a kind.”

But on that impeccable grass, Hare was reminded of Tepesch, who assisted as a coach on Hare’s summer teams in Blue Springs during his offseasons and now is pitching for Class AAA Omaha. After all, Hare and the other All-Stars on Sunday morning are chasing their dreams like Tepesch did.

“Having him around throughout high school was cool, knowing that he plays on these fields every day,” Hare said. “He gets paid to play. He’s living the dream.”

This story was originally published July 24, 2016 at 10:47 PM with the headline "Blue Springs players chase same dream as Royals farmhand Nick Tepesch in Ban Johnson All-Star Game."