For the past three years both my boys have participated in the Pitch Hit and Run Competition hosted by our local little league. It’s one of those fun things that add a little more excitement to our picture day.

Ryan (Spider) three years ago made it to Chase Field for the team championships, but took third place. This year Ryan went out for the 13/14 Category. He posted some pretty gaudy numbers in the local competition which advanced him to the sectional competition.

At the Sectional Competition, he posted a score high enough to make it to the Team Championships. Many people think that winning the section automatically qualifies you for the Team Championships but it doesn’t. In some markets there may be as many as 20 sectionals! Only the three highest scoring winners advance.

The National Level Competition is similar. Out of the 30 Team Champions in each age group, only the 3 highest scores will advance to the National Level Competition. It is extremely unusual for kids with odd number ages to advance as the advantage usually goes to a year more experience and growth.

However, this year Ryan has been playing a lot of club baseball. And not just any baseball, but Chandler Ranger Baseball. The Rangers are a nationally ranked club baseball team (top 5 in the country) that has won 15 tournaments in both 13U Majors and 14U age brackets. They will be traveling to Florida at the end of July to participate in the USSSA Elite 32 World Series. All of that practice and competition had a measurable impact on Ryan’s development as a player.

And that came to fruition a few week ago when Ryan lofted a baseball off a tee far into the outfield at The Diamondbacks spring training facility. His hit not only caught the attention of the National PH&R director, coupled with his pitching and base running speed, his hit gave him enough points to earn a spot in the national competition.

Starting tomorrow, Ryan and his fellow competitors will journey to a brunch hosted by Major League Baseball then they will travel to Chase Field to continue their All Star Journey. You know how some competitions have 100 first prize winners? The way they are handling this event makes it feel like there are 24 first prize winners. So regardless of what happens they’ve made everyone feel very special.

For my part, I will try to capture as much as I can to preserve and share.

Share on Facebook

Eleven Disciples

I was at bible study last Friday, and we were going over Hebrews Chapters 10 and 11. Chapter 11 is somewhat famous because of it’s roll call of Faith. Even people who don’t read the bible have probably heard some of the verses from Hebrews 11. But in studying the Chapter one of the core problems I have personally struggled with is the idea of forgiveness.

You see, if you accept Christ as your savior, your salvation is secured. It’s paid for. Done. But what does that mean as you keep living? What happens if you sin again? Did you undo it?

Chapter 10 verse 26:27 sounds pretty awful.

If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.

Wow. Not good. But consider this. Just a few versus before in 23 through 25:

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

The key phrase here for us was consider how we may spur one another toward love and good deeds.

We all fall short, we are all sinners. But that does not mean we are lost. Our purpose, our mission is to live and meet together and encourage each other.

Ministry on the Ball Field

Suddenly it occurred to me that I had an example right before my eyes. Baseball. I have often said that baseball is great game because it teaches us to handle failure and overcome, to persevere. No one is perfect in baseball. No pitcher strikes out every batter. No hitter bats 1000. Even at the pro level they make mistakes (errors) in the field. Yet… we all still play. We all still press on.

Suddenly, I could see a model that reflects God’s vision for us, once again painted in the world around me if only I was open and willing to see it. On every team I have coached, with every group of young men I have worked with, there exists the spectrum of believers. We have boys who act with complete faith. They go all out, putting their very best into their efforts. Whether it is practice, or a game or a tournament. Whether they know it or not, their play is an act of faithful living. They are putting their best effort forward toward and uncertain outcome, but they are undeterred. Regardless of failure, they know the only way to “win”, to achieve their goals is to commit totally and play with confidence.

Then there are the group of boys who want to be good, who want to believe, but they’re not sure. They are uncertain. Their hesitation and uncertainty slows them down, just a step. A late swing, a pause before attacking a ground ball and suddenly failure looms large and heavy upon them and they think, “see I’m not good enough.” And the cycle is repeated.

Then there are the boys who are happy to be there. This is a fun activity. They are hanging out with their friends. Life is good. All of this commitment and effort is about the team, not them personally right? They’ve done everything that’s been asked of them. They’ve gone to the practices, they’ve done the drills. That’s good enough right? Just let me hang here and enjoy the atmosphere. Winning is fun. It’s difficult for this group ever to make the connection between the activity, and themselves personally. To see this as an opportunity to grow and develop.

Then you might have the super talented kid, the one who has all the potential in the world, but it’s wrapped up in fear of failure. He can’t put himself out there. It’s not a hesitation. It’s a rejection… of baseball. He thinks, I can come to baseball on my own terms, my own way. I can dictate how this will work. And we all see the potential of that athlete, how rich and rewarding his experience could be, if he would just submit to the idea that he’s not in control. He can’t be. That’s not what this is about.

And while the Bible might say some scary things about rejecting Christ, it’s also very clear that he put significant efforts into recruiting everyone, into reaching out to non-believers. Many parables indicate that forgiveness, enrollment is open to all. Even until the last hour.

And then it occurs to me that despite the errors, despite the mistakes, despite all the different approaches everyone of these players belongs. They are all part of this team. They are all part of my team. And I have a responsibility to them. To help them not only improve, but to help them on their journey to live a life of faith and confidence, to believe. I don’t know what God’s plan is. I don’t know what is going to happen when the ball leaves the bat. But I know what my role is. As a player I must act with faith and confidence and every ounce of ability I have to try and use the talents bestowed me, the skills taught to me, to try and achieve a positive outcome. I must give my best. That’s all I can do. And when I do that, I am a light on a stand serving as a beacon to others that it is possible.

And when you achieve that, when you can play that way, we don’t want players who Lord their excellence over others. We want people who can serve as a guide, an inspiration. People who “spur others on” to say, “I’m not so different from you. I have done it. You can do it too!”

As a mentor, as a coach, as a shepherd. My role is to encourage, instruct and guide. I must teach them the skills, but more importantly try to cultivate the attitude of effort. This is my flock, my responsibility. And like the players I must use all of my talent, skill and effort to help these young men understand what they are capable of becoming. And just like I don’t want to lose a single player, I believe the Lord does not want to lose a single one of us.

We will all be at different points along our journey of faith, and sometimes, like a player in a slump we may fall back and need help and encouragement to regain our confidence, but that is the mission, the job. To meet, to gather, and push, cajole and encourage each other to live lives of faith and confidence, to give everything we have and know that it is all we can do.

I am no theologian. I am not a minister. I am Christian man trying to live a life of faith and make difference in the lives of the people I love, in the community around me, and in the world as a whole. A long time ago St Frances of Assisi said,

It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching

I first heard that quote in DeWit Jones inspirational video, “Celebrate What’s Right With the World”. I am always encouraged and amazed when I find something like that in my own personal life, right under my nose.

So as I go through my season, teaching, instructing, learning. I now see this same Wisdom in the writings of the Late John Wooden when he said, “My goal was to help players become the best they are capable of becoming.” And The Capstone of his pyramid of success.

Competitive Greatness is being your best when your best is most needed.

Wooden actually never mentions winning. In fact, he talks almost dismissively about how important it is. As once you start winning, that will not be enough to satisfy your critics. He talks about development, potential and playing with grace and confidence to do your best.

When I read the bible, I see that Christ wants no less from us, and for us. That’s what makes Christ my role model for a coach. I just wish I could be better at it, but I see that as long as I’m striving, putting my best effort forward and living with faith and confidence. Even my errors will be forgiven. I will still belong.

Share on Facebook

I haven’t updated this in a while but if you follow my blog I wanted to direct your attention to tempesouth.com. Where you can find links to the scorecast, news and updates and track the progress of the team.

This is the first team from Tempe South Little League to ever win the District 13 Championship.

Go Tempe South!

Share on Facebook

The last two nights of little league baseball have been crazy. I watched both my sons teams build huge leads, and take certain victory into the last inning only to give it all up. We didn’t lose, but we didn’t win. That makes 3 ties for me this season. Coupled with my 3 at the end of last season I have 6 total ties. I think that has to be a record.

The last two nights were the wackiest as both teams took commanding leads into the last inning. Tuesday night, I brought in a developing pitcher and figured what could go wrong? 3 runs later and loading up the bases I watched the tying run come to the plate and I thought, man we need to end this. So I brought in an ace. Bang. Grand slam. THEN we get the out to end the game. Score 9-9. We have up 7 runs.

The culprit was everyone waiting for someone else to make a play. Any one of 3 or 4 kids could have won the game at any time if they caught the ball, threw the ball, or held onto it. But the real culprit was me who left the developing pitcher in too long. I think now I realize it’s better to pull a kid while he’s on top then to let him struggle.

This is probably why you see Major league managers pull a hot pitcher. Because they grab theme before they get into trouble. So everyone is thinking why are you pulling that guy? He’s on fire! Yup, but he’s about to go very, very cold.

I mean, if you’re going to give up the lead that’s the way to do it right? Then follows the gong show of dropped pop ups, ground balls going by two fielders to the fence, kids out of position, and beautiful strike out pitches getting past the catcher so they’re called balls. Kids not catching the ball when it’s thrown to them, or not hanging on to it for that final out. It didn’t help that the umpire completely blew a call at home plate early in the game which cost us a run. We had 5 or 6 chances to end that game and win it. 4 or 5 kids could have saved that game. No one did.

We took a 7-1 lead into the sixth inning and gave up 5 runs with 2 outs. Final score, 7-7.

I keep telling my kids that we’re tough to beat, but the reality is also that we need to finish. All of my latest ties we have allowed the other team to come from behind. I saw this play called Honus and me. In it Honus Wagner said, “Baseball is organized humiliation.” I also saw in the epic Ken Burns documentary about baseball that, “Baseball is made to break your heart.” Earl Weaver said baseball is the greatest game because, “you must give the other man his turn.” You can’t run out the clock, or play keep away, you must give the other guy his turn.

All that makes baseball probably the hardest of all to close, but we need to learn to close it. the lesson for my guys? Everyone can make a difference. Everyone. The key, is that when the opportunity comes to you in the form of a little white ball, make a play. Don’t wait for someone else. You be that guy. Be the guy to pick it up. Be the guy to catch it. Be the guy to throw it. Be the guy. Make a play.

If we can do that, I know we’ll win.

Share on Facebook