And the Hits Just Keep on Coming!

Really, they did. Usually that phrase is used in a negative connotation, but last night we scored 10 runs in an inning with hit after hit.

We traveled up to the southwest corner of Iowa to play the Clarinda A's in a MINK league game. We were short some pitching and had to piecemeal the rotation a little bit to keep us in the ballgame. We trailed 5-3 going into the seventh inning and it looked like we were done for. Two of those runs were unearned scored with two out in the inning; one on an error and one on a fly ball lost in the lights. Frustrating from a coaching standpoint, but part of the game.

Then it happened. We had two great at-bats to start the seventh, earned by a hit and a walk. We loaded the bases and scored runs on a walk and hit batsman. Then the carousel started going and by the time the third out was recorded, the score was 15-5! We scored the ol' insurance run in the ninth, shut the door in the ninth, won 16-8 and brought our record to 3-2 in the MINK.

We're off today and open up a 4 game home stand this weekend. Keep checking the FCA website for game details. I'm also giving pre and post game interviews online during the live webcasts. Helps me work on media relations!

Shipwrecked on Gilligan's Island

We stranded a small village of runners on base yesterday, with 12 men LOB and lost 8-5. We even out-hit the other team 12-9, but couldn't come up with the big base hit when we needed it. There was also the usual Texas league hit against us that scored three runs when the game was close. But, that's baseball and hopefully those hits will come around for us.

The team went through a little mental adversity as well. A few of the guys displayed some emotion in the dugout that was little over the top. That will be a few of the things we talk about today and during the homestand.

We're off to Clarinda, IA to face one of the strongest teams in the MINK. We're down pitching, so we need to score some runs to have a chance tonight.

I'm having a blast! This is the most fun coaching baseball I've had in a while. Talk to you tomorrow.

First Series Win: We're 2-1

After a restful night in the Days Inn hotel, we headed to the ballpark for the triple-header against conference opponent Ozark Generals. The ballpark wasn't far, so we didn't have to get up very early. I pulled a prank on a few of the players by calling their room as a radio DJ to make sure they were up. I put on my best DJ voice I could and told them they were live on the air. Each room hung up the phone on me, but one young man wondered if a contest was at stake. He was disappointed that he hung up. Of course this sets him up for the next road trip as I'll be sure to call him with another contest. I love road trips!

We were at the park around 10:30 for pregame batting practice and started at noon. The staff really had no idea what to expect from our pitchers, but the defense is solid. Wouldn't you know it our first pitcher threw a complete game shutout and we won 4-0. The second game didn't fare as well, the game got out of hand, and we left our weaker pitchers in to take the blow; we lost 12-5. The rubber game started around 4:00 and our guys did a real nice job staying excited and eager to play. You could really tell the difference from the other team, as our guys rallied around each other and won the game 6-5. These guys are awesome and genuinely like one another, which helps them play better as well. Sure there's the usual ribbing, but they like to play on this team. The staff needs to work on a few mental aspects of the team, but it's coming around.

We got back to KC around 1 o'clock in the morning and we gave them the day off to do whatever. I found a fitness center in Kearney owned by believers and enjoyed working out to burn some energy.

I would love to hear from you. I found a coffee shop across the street from the house I'm staying at with internet access, so drop me an email!

Kitty Litter

I write this in the Days Inn in Ozarks, Missouri. We drove 3.5 hours down here yesterday only to find out the field was extremely wet. We arrived at the park, which is an old minor league facility, with the grounds crew working on the field. Most field have a large tarp which covers the infield to prevent the water soaking the field. Missouri has been getting a lot of rain the past few weeks and the tarp allows teams to continue to play when the rain breaks. Well the tarp that covers this field has holes in it and the infield became wet and unplayable.

There are many tricks in trying to get a field ready. Some coaches and ground crew pour gasoline in the puddles and then put a match to it to dry them up. With the price of gas nowadays that's an expensive effort. There is a compound called QuickDry that absorbs the water and helps to dry the field quickly. This method is also expensive with bags costing around $10 and taking up to 10-20 bags to get the job done. If you haven't guessed it already, kitty litter has the same effect as QuickDry, without being so expensive. There is a drawback: it smells like a litter box!

So the boys went to a restaurant called Lambert's, which has really good home style meals. They also have an unusual atmosphere with the wait staff walking around with appetizers that they dish out of bowls and place on napkins on your table. This includes: fried okra, macaroni n' cheese with tomatoes, and rolls that they throw from across the restaurant! We had a great meal and a great time. Some of the guys sent a birthday gift to one of the assistant coaches with balloons and a cinnamon roll. Good times.

We play a triple-header today to open the season. The sky is blue this morning, the wind blowing east to west, and it's a perfect day for a game(s)!

Will write tomorrow with the results of our day. Go Grays!

Training Camp

So, I said I would blog every day and it hasn't happened. It has been very busy the past few days with players reporting to camp, checking into St. Mary's University in Leavenworth, Kansas (home of the largest state pen in the U.S.) and the first day of practice. Today consisted of hitting and fielding in the morning, followed by more of the same in the afternoon with a scrimmage. We just finished dinner and our evening meetings.

The players are doing a study on Ephesians 6 about putting on the armor of God. The summer theme for FCA is "Get Ready" about those passages and is challenging these athletes to play for the Lord. As athletes they get ready for practices and games, and as Christians we need to get ready to do battle with the powers and principalities that exist in this world.

The Grays have some talented players and the coaching staff is excited to play games. The camp seems a little long, but necessary to gauge the talent of the staff.

I'll post more on Thursday as I gather more information on the team.

Go Time, Baby!

I arrived in KC on Friday night after a long car ride from Chicago, IL. I flew to Chicago in order to ride down with Rich Benjamin, assistant at Olivet Nazarene, who will be assisting this summer. He's a really great individual; very passionate about Jesus and baseball. We get along very well. I look forward to working with him.

We are currently staying with the former director of FCA Baseball, Mike Lusardi and his family. They are gracious hosts and it has been a joy to have fellowship with them.

The past few days have been helping the GM from the Grays, Joe Reed, continue to prepare for the arrival of the players on Monday. He has not had an assistant to help with the mundane tasks: putting together player packets, equipment, itineraries, etc. Guess who did that? It was a good way to start the summer and fill the role of servant leader. Hey, if I believe in that, I need to put that to work. That's the goal this summer, be an example to the kids and be Christ. There may be a few who have not made a commitment to Christ and could make a decision during the summer.

We had to St. Mary's University, north of KC, for training camp tomorrow through Friday night. The kids will head to their host homes, while I will be camped at a missionary parsonage at our host church, First Baptist Church of Kearney, MO. There will be space for Angela and the kids to stay with me when they come at the end of June.

My goal is to blog everyday now that I'm here and continue to share this journey with you. My family and I appreciate those who donated and the sacrifice you made!

A Cup of Coffee

As most of you, I sometimes begin my morning with a cup of coffee. It helps to wake me up and just enjoy the morning. Having coffee on days when you don't have to be anywhere, lets you slow down and think about things. Enjoying this cup o' joe doesn't last too long before reality sets in and you have to get back life. You try to make the most of this time and enjoy yourself as much as possible.

As I was searching our bookshelf for another book to read, a title from one of Angela's books caught my eye. I haven't read it, but it was titled, Cup of Coffee. I just asked Angela what it's about and as the title suggests, it's about coffee.

What does it have to do with baseball, you ask?

As you might imagine, making it to the Major Leagues is extremely difficult. Future prospects in baseball have about a 1 in 10,000 chance to make it to the big leagues. Many minor league players never make it up and if they do, they only get to stay for a little while. In essence, they only get to the majors for "a cup of coffee". In the movie, Bull Durham, Crash Davis talks about his "cup of coffee" as being the best of his life. Someone carries your bags, the batting practice balls are white, the off-speed pitches are crisper. It's all surreal. Didn't last long for him though and he was back on a minor league bus.

Kinda like the Christian life, ain't it? Stay with me, I know this life on earth isn't the major leagues but we're here only a little while. James 4:14 says "Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." Time passes quickly, this life is only a "cup of coffee"; are you making an impact for the Kingdom?