Xavien Howard's celebrity softball game in WPB is bonding opportunity for Dolphins

WEST PALM BEACH — Tua Tagovailoa, batting right-handed, slammed a home run to left field to lead off Xavien Howard's celebrity softball game at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches on Saturday.

As he rounded second base, Tagovailoa paid homage to Dolphins teammate Jaylen Waddle.

Tua Waddled.

Then he was mobbed at home plate as fans chanted, "Tua! Tua! Tua!"

Howard launched his event, which benefits United Way, in West Palm Beach.

"Man, I feel like (Florida) is home for me," Howard said. "You know, I've been here more than eight years. And you know, we've got a lot of support here. I just want to give a shout-out, look-out for the West Palm fans."

And Howard was touched that teammates like Tua, Jaylen Waddle, Tyreek Hill, Trill Williams, Keion Crossen and Raekwon Davis agreed to participate.

"I feel like we support each other," Howard said. "We keep building relationships."

Under the leadership of first-year coach Mike McDaniel, the Dolphins had good chemistry in 2022.

"That's how you build team camaraderie," Crossen said. "At the end of the day, we have fun, because it's bigger than football. It's not just, you know, us on the field supporting each. Whether it's family time or going to dinner with each other or doing an event like this, it's very important that we just have the team bond."

Crossen noted that Xavien plans to attend his camp.

Howard noted how many Dolphins attended Terron Armstead's recent camp.

"X is like a big brother of mine," Trill Williams said. "So anything that he wants to do for charity or things of that nature, I'll willingly do it for him, no questions asked."

Williams, a safety/cornerback returning from injury, said he's been cleared for football.

Williams boasted that he once played in the Little League World Series for a team from Yonkers, N.Y.

And so he was ready to compete.

"We've got to see each other almost every day in the locker room," Williams said. "So this is pretty much gonna be bragging rights."

Some former Dolphins like Jakeem Grant, Reshad Jones, Duke Johnson and Bobby McCain played in the game.

Trill Williams said this is the perfect time for current teammates to "gel."

And Crossen said the defensive unit, under the leadership of first-year defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, has been building "good chemistry."

"You've got a lot of guys that are eager, ready to learn, ready to play, and ready to change the trajectory of our season from last year," Crossen said "Obviously playoffs was, it was a good thing, but it's not our ultimate goal. Our ultimate goal is to get that trophy."

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Joe Schad is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at.jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on Instagram and Twitter @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe's free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Tua Tagovailoa homers at Xavien Howard's celebrity softball game in WPB