As a part of Converge Media’s upcoming documentary about the Mariners Care Foundation “Diamond Of Opportunity,” videographer and producer Mat Bermudez traveled to Anchorage, Alaska, to document the grand opening of a new indoor baseball and softball facility. The story he captured quickly evolved beyond a typical sports feature, becoming an emotional and enlightening account of community revitalization, accessibility, and representation for young athletes.

The facility, built in Northeast Anchorage through the Gamers Alaska program and supported by the Seattle Mariners, provides unprecedented access for children from low-income neighborhoods who lack the means to play. By offering an indoor space, the project overcomes significant environmental hurdles, such as eight months of winter and geographical barriers, forging new pathways for aspiring players. Bermudez highlighted the facility as a "breath of life in the community" and a necessary step forward for accessibility, particularly for underprivileged communities.

The story proved deeply personal for Bermudez, who used his interviewing style to unearth the raw impact of this access, even conducting one interview entirely in Spanish to reflect the program's commitment to all. He reaffirmed his goal as a creative to tell stories that surround his own Latin roots and uplift underrepresented communities. Upon reflection, Bermudez realized the full capacity of their work was giving players the ability to "know what it feels like to be seen," believing it is a story that simply "needs to be told."

Catch the full story on Back2Besa this weekend, Saturday on FOX 13 Seattle at 10:30 p.m. and Sunday on FOX 13+ at 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. Viewers can also stream episodes anytime on the FOX Local app.

Stay tuned for the full “Diamond Of Opportunity” documentary coming in Spring 2026. 

Check out Bermudez’ work at bermudezmediallc.com