| - A - - Special - - Interest - - Piece - |
BASEBALL IS A WAY OF LIFE - I have been an avid baseball fan for as far back as I can remember. There weren’t too many conversations when I was a
young boy that didn’t include the words “baseball” or “Jose Canseco”. These were just a few things that occupied my life a lot when I was growing up. I
remember collecting baseball cards too, which drove my mother nuts because it only further fueled the talk for baseball! Yes, I think that lasting influence on
my mom has made her more knowledgeable of the sport today. You are welcome mom! :-)
I spent most of my early childhood years living in Worthington, Ohio, a suburb of the state capital, Columbus. Columbus also just so happened to be the home
of the Columbus Clippers. For those of you who don’t know, the Clippers are the AAA team for the New York Yankees. The Clippers were very giving to the
school district of Franklin County, often giving many of the school kids tickets to go see games. I’m sure (although I can’t remember) I saw Derek Jeter play
ball before going onto star with the Yankees, but it was the atmosphere of the game that I loved the most. Our little league team was even invited one year to
walk out on the field during the national anthem. Yes, baseball was the highlight of my life.
young boy that didn’t include the words “baseball” or “Jose Canseco”. These were just a few things that occupied my life a lot when I was growing up. I
remember collecting baseball cards too, which drove my mother nuts because it only further fueled the talk for baseball! Yes, I think that lasting influence on
my mom has made her more knowledgeable of the sport today. You are welcome mom! :-)
I spent most of my early childhood years living in Worthington, Ohio, a suburb of the state capital, Columbus. Columbus also just so happened to be the home
of the Columbus Clippers. For those of you who don’t know, the Clippers are the AAA team for the New York Yankees. The Clippers were very giving to the
school district of Franklin County, often giving many of the school kids tickets to go see games. I’m sure (although I can’t remember) I saw Derek Jeter play
ball before going onto star with the Yankees, but it was the atmosphere of the game that I loved the most. Our little league team was even invited one year to
walk out on the field during the national anthem. Yes, baseball was the highlight of my life.
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As the years went by, my interest in baseball became more and more sporadic. I played
little league until I was 16 and after that I probably could have tried out for our high school
team, but there was still that one thing getting in the way. I wasn’t very good. Yes, I can
admit that now. I guess my bad depth perception really kept me from being as into playing
the sport that I had always wanted to. So I hung it up and more or less became an on-and-
off-again fan. By the time I hit middle school, my family and I had moved from Ohio to
Tampa, FL and a year later moved again about 40 minutes northeast to a small town called
Dade City. By the time I had entered the ninth grade, there was news in the Tampa Bay
area that there would soon be a major league baseball team playing in and calling the area
home.
It was 1996 when my brother, my dad and I had attended a minor league game for a brand-
new team called the Tampa Rays. They were then the AA team for a soon-to-be created
team, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. My interest in baseball all of sudden came back and two
years later in April 1998, the Devil Rays started not only the new season, but their first
season. By then my post-graduation plans were to go to college to major in and get a
degree in mass communications. I was determined that although I could not play sports
very well, I was good enough to possibly become a sports broadcaster.
little league until I was 16 and after that I probably could have tried out for our high school
team, but there was still that one thing getting in the way. I wasn’t very good. Yes, I can
admit that now. I guess my bad depth perception really kept me from being as into playing
the sport that I had always wanted to. So I hung it up and more or less became an on-and-
off-again fan. By the time I hit middle school, my family and I had moved from Ohio to
Tampa, FL and a year later moved again about 40 minutes northeast to a small town called
Dade City. By the time I had entered the ninth grade, there was news in the Tampa Bay
area that there would soon be a major league baseball team playing in and calling the area
home.
It was 1996 when my brother, my dad and I had attended a minor league game for a brand-
new team called the Tampa Rays. They were then the AA team for a soon-to-be created
team, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. My interest in baseball all of sudden came back and two
years later in April 1998, the Devil Rays started not only the new season, but their first
season. By then my post-graduation plans were to go to college to major in and get a
degree in mass communications. I was determined that although I could not play sports
very well, I was good enough to possibly become a sports broadcaster.
At the beginning of my senior year of high school in August 1998, my journalism teacher encouraged me to write an article about the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for
our school paper. After sending a request into the Devil Rays to attend a game and interview the TV commentators, Dewayne Staats and Joe Magraine, I was
shocked when I was invited not only to come to the game to conduct the interview, but to sit alongside the duo in the TV booth during a live TV broadcast. It
was an amazing experience and I am still thankful today that I had the opportunity.
In June 1999, I graduated high school. My plans to go to college were put on hold because my high school girlfriend had become pregnant with my daughter
Mariah, so I knew my responsibility for raising a child would take priority over anything else. My dream of working in sports was ultimately dashed, but the
time that I would spend working in a different genre of media would come soon enough.
our school paper. After sending a request into the Devil Rays to attend a game and interview the TV commentators, Dewayne Staats and Joe Magraine, I was
shocked when I was invited not only to come to the game to conduct the interview, but to sit alongside the duo in the TV booth during a live TV broadcast. It
was an amazing experience and I am still thankful today that I had the opportunity.
In June 1999, I graduated high school. My plans to go to college were put on hold because my high school girlfriend had become pregnant with my daughter
Mariah, so I knew my responsibility for raising a child would take priority over anything else. My dream of working in sports was ultimately dashed, but the
time that I would spend working in a different genre of media would come soon enough.
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SALVATION ARRIVES – It was June 2003 and I had come to the realization that my
life wasn’t heading in the direction that it needed to be. God ultimately intervened and
left me with only one choice. Either live for Him, or suffer the consequences of life
without His guidance, and a trip that would surely lead me to the pits of hell. June 25,
2003 I walked to the altar of the church I was attending at the time with my then-
girlfriend Shannon (now my wife) and surrendered my life to God and asked Jesus
Christ to live in my heart as my Lord and Savior. Yes, my life changed that day and I
was a new creation in Christ.
About a year later I had become part of a radio ministry, co-hosting a radio/talk show on
Saturday nights. We interviewed Christian artists and attended various concerts and
events, including the 2004 Dove Awards. It was a truly remarkable experience and
served as a tremendous learning experience for me. This was my first taste of working
in the media and although I enjoyed it a lot, the time with the radio station would soon
come to an end. After leaving the station after six months, the Lord moved me onto my
next endeavor, Christian Music Review and after nearly five years of work, it is still a big
part of my life and work that I love and are proud of.
life wasn’t heading in the direction that it needed to be. God ultimately intervened and
left me with only one choice. Either live for Him, or suffer the consequences of life
without His guidance, and a trip that would surely lead me to the pits of hell. June 25,
2003 I walked to the altar of the church I was attending at the time with my then-
girlfriend Shannon (now my wife) and surrendered my life to God and asked Jesus
Christ to live in my heart as my Lord and Savior. Yes, my life changed that day and I
was a new creation in Christ.
About a year later I had become part of a radio ministry, co-hosting a radio/talk show on
Saturday nights. We interviewed Christian artists and attended various concerts and
events, including the 2004 Dove Awards. It was a truly remarkable experience and
served as a tremendous learning experience for me. This was my first taste of working
in the media and although I enjoyed it a lot, the time with the radio station would soon
come to an end. After leaving the station after six months, the Lord moved me onto my
next endeavor, Christian Music Review and after nearly five years of work, it is still a big
part of my life and work that I love and are proud of.
BASEBALL CALLS AGAIN – I had semi-followed the Tampa Bay Devil Rays over the years since high school attending games here and there, but the team’s
dismal performance each year left me kind of disappointed. I hadn’t really told people this, but I was actually praying at the time that the Lord would allow them
to win some games! Get some excitement going! It had worked for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL team, won the Super Bowl in the 2002 season) and the
Tampa Bay Lightning (2004 Stanley Cup Winners) who both endured losing season after season until coming out on top. Was 2008 finally the year my Devil
Rays were going to do something? Well, the 2008 pre-season was nice, with the Devil Rays dropping the ‘Devil’ from their name, becoming the Tampa Bay
Rays. New name, new uniform, a seemingly new look and fresh start. For once in a great while, I was optimistic that the Devil Rays, oops, I mean Rays
would actually do something. I never would have imagined the season that they would go onto have. It’s an exciting story that I hope to be able to tell my son
someday.
dismal performance each year left me kind of disappointed. I hadn’t really told people this, but I was actually praying at the time that the Lord would allow them
to win some games! Get some excitement going! It had worked for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL team, won the Super Bowl in the 2002 season) and the
Tampa Bay Lightning (2004 Stanley Cup Winners) who both endured losing season after season until coming out on top. Was 2008 finally the year my Devil
Rays were going to do something? Well, the 2008 pre-season was nice, with the Devil Rays dropping the ‘Devil’ from their name, becoming the Tampa Bay
Rays. New name, new uniform, a seemingly new look and fresh start. For once in a great while, I was optimistic that the Devil Rays, oops, I mean Rays
would actually do something. I never would have imagined the season that they would go onto have. It’s an exciting story that I hope to be able to tell my son
someday.
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After 11 losing seasons, manager Joe Maddon had finally managed to do what Larry
Rothschild, Hal McRae & Lou Pinella couldn’t do before. Have a winning season. Not
only did they finish above .500, but managed to secure the second best record in baseball,
clinch a home field and a playoff spot against the Chicago White Sox in the ALDS, but
manage to beat both of the Sox teams (Bo and Chi) to play the Phillies in the World Series.
My brother and I were at Game 1 of the ALDS, the first playoff game in Rays history, and
witnessed the Rays beat the White Sox that night 6-4. Evan Longoria’s two back-to-back
homeruns were a major plus too!
WORLD SERIES, HERE WE COME! Could it be? Was it real? Was the worst team in
baseball in 2007 actually going to play the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series? It
seemed so surreal. What was even more unreal is how my brother and I managed to get
tickets to Game 1 of the World Series, at face value too! Even though the Rays lost Game
1 and eventually went onto lose the Series four games to one, it was the best $100 I have
ever spent! I had kept my faith in the team that everyone laughed at for so long, and now
they were a team that could hold their heads up high doing what very few had ever done
before, go from worst to first.
Rothschild, Hal McRae & Lou Pinella couldn’t do before. Have a winning season. Not
only did they finish above .500, but managed to secure the second best record in baseball,
clinch a home field and a playoff spot against the Chicago White Sox in the ALDS, but
manage to beat both of the Sox teams (Bo and Chi) to play the Phillies in the World Series.
My brother and I were at Game 1 of the ALDS, the first playoff game in Rays history, and
witnessed the Rays beat the White Sox that night 6-4. Evan Longoria’s two back-to-back
homeruns were a major plus too!
WORLD SERIES, HERE WE COME! Could it be? Was it real? Was the worst team in
baseball in 2007 actually going to play the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series? It
seemed so surreal. What was even more unreal is how my brother and I managed to get
tickets to Game 1 of the World Series, at face value too! Even though the Rays lost Game
1 and eventually went onto lose the Series four games to one, it was the best $100 I have
ever spent! I had kept my faith in the team that everyone laughed at for so long, and now
they were a team that could hold their heads up high doing what very few had ever done
before, go from worst to first.
THE FAITH OF THE RAYS – 2009 has started somewhat dismal for the Rays, but like last year I have confidence that they can bounce back. In March 2009
I had sent a request into the Rays asking for the chance to interview Christian players, Gabe Gross and Ben Zobrist. This article was supposed to be a video
podcast originally, but due to an issue with the sound on the camera we were using, it then turned into this feature article. It’s good though, the next best
thing. But you can still get a glimpse of our experience from the amazing pictures my brother Anthony (also my photographer) got before and during the game.
I had sent a request into the Rays asking for the chance to interview Christian players, Gabe Gross and Ben Zobrist. This article was supposed to be a video
podcast originally, but due to an issue with the sound on the camera we were using, it then turned into this feature article. It’s good though, the next best
thing. But you can still get a glimpse of our experience from the amazing pictures my brother Anthony (also my photographer) got before and during the game.
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When we arrived at Tropicana Field on April 18, 2009 we were not sure what to expect.
What was the interview going to be like? I felt so out of my element. Here I was,
somewhat of a pro at interviewing musicians, getting ready to ask two major leaguers
how they’re faith in Christ played out daily in their life with the Rays.
I was quite impressed after having met both Gross and Zobrist. There was a certain
aura about them that I noticed right off the bat. Even their demeanor and how they
composed themselves amongst the other players impressed me. I remember when I had
first spoke to Zobrist prior to his interview; he was walking towards the dugout where I
had been standing, from his pre-game warm-ups in right field. He was walking quietly
toward me, when another Rays player ran past him yelling something obscene to a Rays
coach standing behind us. Ben’s reaction surprised me. He shook his head and smiled
as he walked up to me. He was about to head to batting practice, as was Gross and told
me that he looked forward to talking with me. Gross followed close behind and was just
as eager to share his story of faith and baseball with me as well. I was ready for the
interview.
What was the interview going to be like? I felt so out of my element. Here I was,
somewhat of a pro at interviewing musicians, getting ready to ask two major leaguers
how they’re faith in Christ played out daily in their life with the Rays.
I was quite impressed after having met both Gross and Zobrist. There was a certain
aura about them that I noticed right off the bat. Even their demeanor and how they
composed themselves amongst the other players impressed me. I remember when I had
first spoke to Zobrist prior to his interview; he was walking towards the dugout where I
had been standing, from his pre-game warm-ups in right field. He was walking quietly
toward me, when another Rays player ran past him yelling something obscene to a Rays
coach standing behind us. Ben’s reaction surprised me. He shook his head and smiled
as he walked up to me. He was about to head to batting practice, as was Gross and told
me that he looked forward to talking with me. Gross followed close behind and was just
as eager to share his story of faith and baseball with me as well. I was ready for the
interview.
When the two were done with batting practice, we all sat in the dugout and started the interview. Gross was first in line, while Zobrist waited quietly behind
us. My first question to Gross was, “You hit a moonshot (homerun) that hit the jumbo-tron in right field” which was a good 80 feet beyond the right field wall.
“Have you got the bill from the dent you left yet?” He laughed and said “Yeah, you know I remember that! No, I was lucky and didn’t get billed.”
My next question revolved around Gross’ trade to Tampa Bay on April 22, 2008 from the Milwaukee Brewers. I joked with him asking, “Were you thinking,
man if they were gonna trade me, couldn’t they have traded me to a team that could win above .500?” He laughed and said “No, you know I loved it in
Milwaukee, but being traded wasn’t so bad. Tampa was a young team and just needed some help. I wanted to come down here and contribute to the team” My
next question jumped to the World Series topic. “Did you think when you were traded to Tampa Bay that six months from then you would be playing in the
World Series? How was that experience for you?” He smiled as he replied. “It was amazing. I had so much fun. It’s something you dream about when you’re
young.” I had to mention to him that my brother and I watched game 1 from the 300 section as I pointed behind home plate. “My brother and I were way up
there in section 300, and it was worth every bit of the $100 we spent on tickets. A truly once in a lifetime experience”. I then went onto ask him about his intro
music that played when he walked up to the plate. “Yeah, ‘Blessed be the Name of the Lord’ was the song I walked up to last year. Matt Redman. I love that
song.” I asked Gabe who some of his favorite artists were. “I really like MercyMe, and I listen to Third Day a lot. I listen to a lot of stuff. I really like the
hymns too.”
I asked Gross to give me a brief testimony on how he came to know Christ. “I got saved at an early age. I was 9 years old. I had asked my mom more
questions then I think she had answers for. I walked the aisle to the altar at the 1st Baptist Church in Winter Haven and the pastor asked me to sit there for a
few minutes. He asked me if me if I knew what I was doing, and I said “yes, I got saved”. After the bulk part of interview was over, I had given Gabe a copy
of MercyMe’s newest CD, 10 for him to listen to while he was out on the road, along with a copy of John Waller’s new album, While I’m Waiting. (So special
thanks to MercyMe, the Media Collective and John Waller for sending those out to us!) “Have you been to any concerts in the off-seasons?” I asked Gabe.
“You know what, I’m not much of a concert person, but I did get a chance to catch MercyMe this past off-season. It was a great show. We got to go back
and meet them after the show. Great concert”
IF/OF Ben Zobrist was the next to join me. I was humbled when he said that he thought he had heard something about our website and may have even saw
something on it. I was excited to know that. I guess the fact that Ben’s wife Julianna was an independent Christian artist out of their hometown of Nashville.
“Yes, my wife is a Christian artist. Actually, I had walked up to the plate to tobyMac’s song “Ignition” last season, and I have used one of my wife’s songs this
year. I love tobyMac though and his music”. We gave Ben a copy of Toby’s Grammy award-winning album, Alive and Transported along with a copy of
Francesca Battistelli’s debut album, My Paper Heart. I gathered that he was surprised at the gesture. “Wow, that is cool. Thank you very much!”
The first thing on the interview agenda with Ben was the pinch-hit grand-slam that he had hit the night before to lift the Rays past the ChiSox late in the game.
“Yeah, I told everyone I was going to ride that one for a long time!” He laughed before continuing to say “I really wasn’t ready. I didn’t know that I was going
to be going into the game until the last second. I was walking back to the clubhouse when someone yelled down into the tunnel, “Hey, you’re hitting right
now!” It was a moment that us Rays fans love to see. Winning the game in such an exciting, edge-of-your-seat way! When I asked Ben about the World
Series experience and if he thought the Rays would be playing in the Series, he said “You know I don’t think anyone really thought much about that. We just
took one day at a time. Playing in the World Series was definitely a blast. Just all the media, the fans, it was a really exciting time”
My next question centered on Zobrist’s Christian faith, I asked him, “You are a Christian playing baseball at the highest level. How does your faith play out daily
in your career as a player and a Ray?” Without really even thinking about it, he replied “I try not to separate my faith from my career, you know? It’s kind of
hard sometimes being put on a high platform [such as MLB], and it’s not the easiest thing living out your faith in major league baseball, but we have a loving
Lord and we definitely want to make Him known”. I asked Ben the same question as I asked Gross, regarding his personal testimony. “I first understood the
Gospels at an early age, I was like 5. In Sunday school they taught us that if I didn’t have Jesus in my heart that I wasn’t going to go to heaven when I die. It
was that fear of going to hell, that’s really how I came to know Christ. That [hell] sounds like a bad thing, but my mom had taught me that if I accepted Jesus
in my heart and that once He took the penalty for my sins, that I was free and that I was gonna go to Heaven.” Amen to that. Like so many other Christians
who can attest, it is a feeling like no other. “Your right” he said.
us. My first question to Gross was, “You hit a moonshot (homerun) that hit the jumbo-tron in right field” which was a good 80 feet beyond the right field wall.
“Have you got the bill from the dent you left yet?” He laughed and said “Yeah, you know I remember that! No, I was lucky and didn’t get billed.”
My next question revolved around Gross’ trade to Tampa Bay on April 22, 2008 from the Milwaukee Brewers. I joked with him asking, “Were you thinking,
man if they were gonna trade me, couldn’t they have traded me to a team that could win above .500?” He laughed and said “No, you know I loved it in
Milwaukee, but being traded wasn’t so bad. Tampa was a young team and just needed some help. I wanted to come down here and contribute to the team” My
next question jumped to the World Series topic. “Did you think when you were traded to Tampa Bay that six months from then you would be playing in the
World Series? How was that experience for you?” He smiled as he replied. “It was amazing. I had so much fun. It’s something you dream about when you’re
young.” I had to mention to him that my brother and I watched game 1 from the 300 section as I pointed behind home plate. “My brother and I were way up
there in section 300, and it was worth every bit of the $100 we spent on tickets. A truly once in a lifetime experience”. I then went onto ask him about his intro
music that played when he walked up to the plate. “Yeah, ‘Blessed be the Name of the Lord’ was the song I walked up to last year. Matt Redman. I love that
song.” I asked Gabe who some of his favorite artists were. “I really like MercyMe, and I listen to Third Day a lot. I listen to a lot of stuff. I really like the
hymns too.”
I asked Gross to give me a brief testimony on how he came to know Christ. “I got saved at an early age. I was 9 years old. I had asked my mom more
questions then I think she had answers for. I walked the aisle to the altar at the 1st Baptist Church in Winter Haven and the pastor asked me to sit there for a
few minutes. He asked me if me if I knew what I was doing, and I said “yes, I got saved”. After the bulk part of interview was over, I had given Gabe a copy
of MercyMe’s newest CD, 10 for him to listen to while he was out on the road, along with a copy of John Waller’s new album, While I’m Waiting. (So special
thanks to MercyMe, the Media Collective and John Waller for sending those out to us!) “Have you been to any concerts in the off-seasons?” I asked Gabe.
“You know what, I’m not much of a concert person, but I did get a chance to catch MercyMe this past off-season. It was a great show. We got to go back
and meet them after the show. Great concert”
IF/OF Ben Zobrist was the next to join me. I was humbled when he said that he thought he had heard something about our website and may have even saw
something on it. I was excited to know that. I guess the fact that Ben’s wife Julianna was an independent Christian artist out of their hometown of Nashville.
“Yes, my wife is a Christian artist. Actually, I had walked up to the plate to tobyMac’s song “Ignition” last season, and I have used one of my wife’s songs this
year. I love tobyMac though and his music”. We gave Ben a copy of Toby’s Grammy award-winning album, Alive and Transported along with a copy of
Francesca Battistelli’s debut album, My Paper Heart. I gathered that he was surprised at the gesture. “Wow, that is cool. Thank you very much!”
The first thing on the interview agenda with Ben was the pinch-hit grand-slam that he had hit the night before to lift the Rays past the ChiSox late in the game.
“Yeah, I told everyone I was going to ride that one for a long time!” He laughed before continuing to say “I really wasn’t ready. I didn’t know that I was going
to be going into the game until the last second. I was walking back to the clubhouse when someone yelled down into the tunnel, “Hey, you’re hitting right
now!” It was a moment that us Rays fans love to see. Winning the game in such an exciting, edge-of-your-seat way! When I asked Ben about the World
Series experience and if he thought the Rays would be playing in the Series, he said “You know I don’t think anyone really thought much about that. We just
took one day at a time. Playing in the World Series was definitely a blast. Just all the media, the fans, it was a really exciting time”
My next question centered on Zobrist’s Christian faith, I asked him, “You are a Christian playing baseball at the highest level. How does your faith play out daily
in your career as a player and a Ray?” Without really even thinking about it, he replied “I try not to separate my faith from my career, you know? It’s kind of
hard sometimes being put on a high platform [such as MLB], and it’s not the easiest thing living out your faith in major league baseball, but we have a loving
Lord and we definitely want to make Him known”. I asked Ben the same question as I asked Gross, regarding his personal testimony. “I first understood the
Gospels at an early age, I was like 5. In Sunday school they taught us that if I didn’t have Jesus in my heart that I wasn’t going to go to heaven when I die. It
was that fear of going to hell, that’s really how I came to know Christ. That [hell] sounds like a bad thing, but my mom had taught me that if I accepted Jesus
in my heart and that once He took the penalty for my sins, that I was free and that I was gonna go to Heaven.” Amen to that. Like so many other Christians
who can attest, it is a feeling like no other. “Your right” he said.
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One other question that I had really wanted to ask was, “What was a normal Sunday like on
gameday?” Both Gross and Zobrist walked me through a typical Sunday. Starting the
morning out with some breakfast, getting warmed up and taking batting practice and then
going in with the team’s pastor for about 20-30 for what Gross described as somewhat of
a ‘mini-sermon’, then closing with some prayer time. “When I have time, and the games
are scheduled later in the day, I like to go to an early morning service where we’re playing”
Zobrist added. You have to admit, that’s dedication.
From what I witnessed from these two guys, baseball is their career of choice, but it’s
serving the Lord with their lives that takes priority in their lives. I really enjoyed talking
with them both and hope to do a follow-up piece later in the season, (hoping and praying
that the Rays are in play-off contention at the time), but I am thankful that Rays invited us
down for the game, as it was a wonderful experience. The Rays lost the game that night,
but what I took from it was more powerful then any win. The encouragement of these
guys’ stories and how they live their lives daily playing in MLB for Christ, and for His
glory. Amazing story, and I hope those reading this right now are encouraged from the
story as well.
gameday?” Both Gross and Zobrist walked me through a typical Sunday. Starting the
morning out with some breakfast, getting warmed up and taking batting practice and then
going in with the team’s pastor for about 20-30 for what Gross described as somewhat of
a ‘mini-sermon’, then closing with some prayer time. “When I have time, and the games
are scheduled later in the day, I like to go to an early morning service where we’re playing”
Zobrist added. You have to admit, that’s dedication.
From what I witnessed from these two guys, baseball is their career of choice, but it’s
serving the Lord with their lives that takes priority in their lives. I really enjoyed talking
with them both and hope to do a follow-up piece later in the season, (hoping and praying
that the Rays are in play-off contention at the time), but I am thankful that Rays invited us
down for the game, as it was a wonderful experience. The Rays lost the game that night,
but what I took from it was more powerful then any win. The encouragement of these
guys’ stories and how they live their lives daily playing in MLB for Christ, and for His
glory. Amazing story, and I hope those reading this right now are encouraged from the
story as well.
A big and gracious thank you goes out to both Gabe Gross and Ben Zobrist for taking the time to speak with us and also a special thank you to both Carmen
Molina and Chris Costello for setting the interviews up and helping us coordinate them at the game.
May God receive all the honor and glory!
Molina and Chris Costello for setting the interviews up and helping us coordinate them at the game.
May God receive all the honor and glory!
--Other Photos--
Besides the interview and the pictures that we were able to take before and during the game,
we also got the opportunity to meet and talk with some other Rays players and coaches.
Some of those players include ...
we also got the opportunity to meet and talk with some other Rays players and coaches.
Some of those players include ...
| 2B, Akinori Iwamura |
| 3B & 2008 Rookie of the Year, Evan Longoria |
| Rays Senior Advisor & Former Player/Coach, Don Zimmer |
| ChiSox DH, Jim Thome |
[Click on photo to see larger image]