If you look closely at Derrion Batieste’s hairline, you’ll notice a slight cowlick.

He’s not ashamed of it though, because it’s something he shares with his brother, Kaden Batieste; his father, Derek Batieste and his grandfather, Rayford Batieste.

“All the men in the family have it,” 16-year-old Derrion Batieste said. “It’s just something I inherited.”

Aside from physical similarities, each Batieste man is different.

While 40-year-old Derek Batieste loves to camp, 88-year-old Rayford Batieste admits it’s not his favorite pastime.

He’ll pitch a tent every now and then, though — simply because he knows how much his son enjoys the outdoors.

Derek recalls getting quite the laugh from watching his father help out while he was a Cub Scout in Natchez.

“He stepped in the canoe, then fell straight into the lake,” Derek said with a laugh.

Rayford said his plunge into 40-degree-weather water wasn’t fun, but seeing his son get a giggle out of his lack of nature knowledge made it worth it.

“I was trying!” Raymond said emphatically. “I prefer the kind of camping where you just look outside — the RV kind.”

And while the Batieste men definitely differ on the outdoors, they all agree on one passion — sports.

Derrion loves sports so much he plays for several area teams.

A typical summer day for Derrion consists of a 7-on-7-football practice for Cathedral High School, where he is a student, followed by a baseball game in Vidalia.

He doesn’t mind the busy schedule though, because his love of the game outweighs his exhaustion.

“We devote all our time to sports now,” said Derek, who helps coach Derrion’s travel basketball team.

Derek said he encourages his sons to play sports, because it instills discipline, among other positive qualities.

“To me, sports is a big part of keeping their minds focused and away from temptation,” Derek said. “It keeps them so busy, they don’t have time for trouble.”

That lesson shined through recently when Raymond took Derrion and 10-year-old Kaden to an Atlanta Braves baseball game.

When Braves player Justin Upton hit a foul ball into the crowd, Derrion caught the ball, but selflessly gave it away to a younger fan.

“The little boy beside him was crying, so he gave him the ball,” Rayford said with pride. “People were just so surprised by that.”

Looking at his son and two grandsons, Rayford said he hopes to simply pass down good character.

He’s not looking for award-winning athletes or the next valedictorian. He’s looking for stand-up men, and he’s proud of who they’re growing up to be.

“I guess you could say we’re a tight-knit family,” said Rayford Batieste, adding that the family plans to celebrate Father’s Day with a good, old-fashioned barbecue at his house. “I try to instill in them the value of life — being a good person.”