Our motto is to "pursue the crown." In 1 Corinthians 9:25, Paul wrote, "Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever" (NIV). As athletes, we dedicate countless hours of attention and focus to developing in our sport. Although we should pursue our passion in athletics with all of our ability, we should equally be pursuing our relationship with God because as Paul writes, the crowns of our sport will not last, but the crown of Christ will last forever.
What this means for us as coaches and players is that we ought to play the game differently than the average baseball player does. We must buy in to the following values: Hustle, Attitude, and Toughness. When other teams, parents, umpires, and coaches watch us play, we aspire for them to notice a difference in the way we play the game. We play for a higher purpose. We do not take our God-given talents for granted. We play every pitch as if it were our last. Our coaches and players hustle on and off the field at all times. We have good attitudes, encourage one another, and respond appropriately both to victory and adversity. Finally, we play the game with an unrivaled toughness, both physically and mentally.
