Every Day Is Father's Day

Tim Botos: JACKSON TWP. Back elbow cocked high, as his father had reminded him, Mario Passerini swung the aluminum bat at the incoming pitch. With an echoing "ping" sound, the 7-year-old connected, sending the baseball rolling toward shortstop. A gaggle of tiny Cubs players converged on the ball.

It was too late, though.

Mario's helmet wobbled back and forth on his cropped blond hair, as he streaked toward first base. He hopped safely onto the bag. Proud father, Dan Passerini, an assistant coach for his son's Diamondbacks team, gazed out and caught Mario's eyes. Father flashed his son a thumbs-up sign.

Today, of course, is the official Father's Day.

However, that day last week on a youth field at Lake Cable Elementary School also was Father's Day, in a sense, for Dan Passerini. It was Father's Day the weekend before too. He beamed during his 5-year-old daughter Maddalena's dance recital. Every day is Father's Day for Dan Passerini.

He's a single dad of two children.

Not by choice.