A big question going into the year, for the SQ Giants was who would take charge in center field and behind the plate?
As early as the first day of tryouts, worries were alleviated when Aaron “June” Miles suited up behind the dish and Kameron “Cam” Hamilton anchored himself in center; both instantly becoming leaders in every statistical category, and leaders of the team on the field and off.
I sat with the new leading duo and asked what made them tick:
Anthony Caravalho (AMC): Did you know there was baseball at SQ?
Kameron Hamilton (KH): I saw it in SQNews and wondered if I still had what it took.
June Miles (JM): Not until I arrived at SQ.
AMC: Has the game contributed to your rehabilitation. Why or why not?
KH: Yes, baseball is exercise, and community is instrumental to my rehabilitation.
JM: It’s given me discipline and other tools I’ll use when I get home; while improving my communication skills.
AMC: How was you career before incarceration?
KH: I played baseball year-round from 4 years to 16, always excelling. I quit baseball in my junior year of high school because negative influences convinced me to quit as I didn’t get along with teammates and one coach. I gave up my passion and focused on football.
JM: Amazing. I was the best player on every team, and was scouted by MLB’s St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds.
AMC: When did you realize you left the sport behind?
KH: My freshman year of college I suffered a career ending football injury.
JM: When I started playing here at SQ, I thought I lost it, but I heard all the talk about certain players being so good my competitive side kicked in and I went to work.
AMC: Does your family assist you in rehabilitation and what programs do you take here?
KH: My family supports my two kids so I couldn’t ask for anything else. To thank them, I make good choices and give myself the best chance to parole and relieve them of that responsibility I put on them. Today, I’m involved in Prison Fellowship, which holds me accountable; Houses of Healing gives me a deeper understanding of the impact of my poor choices. It also teaches me to forgive myself and others. I also tutor math to help others obtain their GED as I await joining ISUDT.
JM: Yes, my family is my support system – Enneagram helped me get in touch with the trauma I caused and endured.
AMC: Cam, you are about to go to the Board of Parole. How can you speak to how baseball helped in recovery?
KH: This is an overwhelming time in my life and my Board hearing is so important to me. I often put a lot of pressure on myself regarding my Board prep, but baseball is an outlet to relieve my stress, anxiety, while being an additional support system. Baseball reminds me of who I am which, I hope, I can project in the Board room.
AMC: What can you tell others about the strength you garnered by staying in sport?
KH: Sports structures and motivates me to have positive interests and goals. After sports, my life became a downhill ride because I lost my only coping mechanism, then making destructive choices to replace the game I loved. I would tell others to not put your entire life into one thing, including sports.
JM: I focus on bettering myself so I can get home to my kids, and never return to that criminal lifestyle. I would teach other to play sports to improve your health and give you structure while exhausting yourself so your mind doesn’t drift to criminal activity.
AMC: What is the legacy or imprint you want to leave behind?
KH: I always try to lead by example and I hope how I played the game and conduct myself would influences others in a positive way.
JM: I was very competitive and I didn’t take no shit from coaches when they were wrong, and I loved baseball and became a better human.
AMC: Why do the two of you believe you play so well together?
KH: We support each other and love seeing each other succeed.
JM: We challenge each other and we want the same thing…to go home, win and give our all.
AMC: What are your hopes for the future after your release?
KH: I want to show my family and community the power and ability of transformation, while implanting a positive legacy for my kids.
JM: Help the youth with all sports, help give them something to focus on and give them an outlet. I need to give back to the community I’ve taken so much from.
