Submitted photo: Fort Dodge Legends volunteers (left to right) Amy Pederson, Mindy Derrig and Jodie Grandors have served as regular officers for over a decade.

Mother’s Day is a time to reflect on the love, sacrifice, leadership and selflessness women bring into the world — often without the expectations of attention or recognition.

Nick Pederson sees it every day, both in his own home and as the long-standing president of the Fort Dodge Baseball Association. And while he doesn’t feel like there needs to be a day to show such appreciation, there’s no better time than this weekend to give the “moms of the FDBA” the flowers they fully deserve.

“I’m not even exaggerating when I say there wouldn’t be an FDBA without them,” said Pederson, who has served as the youth baseball organization’s president since 2007. “They often take on thankless jobs and roles that really require the greater good of everyone in mind, and that’s a rare thing these days.

“If you get the wrong person in place, it can lead to trouble in a hurry. Fortunately, with Mindy (Derrig), Jodie (Grandors) and my wife (Amy Pederson), they’ve set the tone for over a decade now of what it truly looks like to serve for these kids and their families. They’ve volunteered year after year, taking time away from their own lives and responsibilities at home. We couldn’t be more grateful.”

The annual Taco Tico Throwdown is this weekend at Rogers Sports Complex. Derrig, Grandors, Pederson and countless other moms will be spending their special day on Sunday helping and taking care of both little things behind the scenes and tackling big jobs to help their kids and the tournament succeed.

“I call them the ‘Women of Legends’ because we, as men, would be lost without them,” Pederson said. “Mindy, Jodie and Amy are amazing, but really, it’s all the moms involved with our 13 Legends teams. They make such a massive difference in our day-to-day lives both on and off the field.

“We have people who have helped with the FDBA not just during their own kid’s (involvement), but before and after. You just don’t see that much anymore. Those three in particular are a great example of what selfless and consistent leadership looks like in our community.”

Derrig currently serves as treasurer. Grandors is the fundraising coordinator. Amy Pederson is the lead organizer of the annual FDBA golf outing.

“Mindy deals with so many moving pieces and puts in a ton of time to keep everything lined up and in order,” Nick Pederson said. “Jodie has fought tooth and nail for years to make sure Legends is affordable and stays affordable.

“In addition to dealing with the ins and outs of the golf fundraiser, which takes care of (the cost of) our uniforms and a lot of other things, Amy makes me look more organized than I actually am. She helps keep me sane and on task with everything. I can’t even imagine functioning without her.”

It hasn’t been easy to keep the books balanced and Legends teams affordable through the years. Pederson called it both a “goal and a passion” of the veteran FDBA officers, who have offered stability at a time when many organizations have lost the plot on their main purpose.

“With so much going on now in travel ball — whether it’s ulterior motives or trying to make a ton of money off the system or whatever — I think it’s as important as ever to be transparent and inclusive,” Pederson said. “We’re always going to be more local and community driven. We’re trying to play the ‘middle game’ (between serious travel ball and a more traditional recreational format). It isn’t easy, but people like Mindy and Jodie and Amy help make that happen. We’re always going to want kids to play baseball for an affordable price. You need people to prioritize that to pull that off. And they do.”