Rocky Mount, N.C. - Prior to opening the 2016 season, North Carolina Wesleyan's baseball team was blessed with the opportunity to travel to Eutaw, Alabama as part of a rewarding mission trip from January 16th to the 20th. The trip included a visit to First Baptist Church in Woodstock, Georgia -- one of the largest churches in Atlanta. The service provided a great message about going where God needs you to go, even when you may have another destination in mind. As you can see from notes submitted by our 2016 Senior Class, the Battling Bishops were right where they needed to be.
Senior Class of 2016
Originally, the Battling Bishops had received an opportunity to go on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic to spread the word of Jesus Christ. The plans, however, did not work out, and instead, NCWC was called to another impoverished location: Eutaw, Alabama. A small town twenty miles from Tuscaloosa, Eutaw was rough around the edges and in need of assistance. The baseball program was there to help in any way possible throughout the community. Bishop players painted, repaired and pressure washed houses, picked up trash around the community, poured concrete, donated clothes to the community center, and much more.
A huge blessing from the trip was Baseball Country! Baseball Country is a place where baseball teams can build relationships between teammates and coaches that will never be forgotten. The indoor facility allowed the Bishops to practice as a team and be very productive by hitting in the cage, taking ground balls on the turf, and getting in extra reps away from the cold. During free time, players played some really competitive games of dodgeball, football and whiffle ball. The Bishops always managed to have some good, competitive fun when they were not busy helping out the community. NCWC also hosted a clinic for a local baseball team on one of its free days, which allowed the players to reach out to young athletes and provide lasting memories by simply talking to them about life.
Andy Phillips, a former professional baseball player with the New York Yankees who is originally from Alabama, also visited with the team and spoke on a multitude of topics regarding baseball and life. Senior pitcher Jordan Rogers was impacted by Phillips comments, stating, "Courage is to be yourself no matter who you're around, especially representatives of Christ."
Commented senior hurler Dillon Moore, "The service trip to rural Alabama was very humbling. Being off the grid definitely added to the cohesiveness of the team and also showed us how blessed we were. This motivated us to work harder and never take anything for granted. The team was really inspired by Baseball Country. Kenny Burns, a former professional player and owner of Baseball Country, offered us opportunities to reach out to others in a personal and spiritual way. The location of the facility called for team unity because it was located "in the middle of nowhere."
Senior infielder Ciro Norzagaray said, "My favorite part about the trip was that we didn't have any service on our phones, so it was all about baseball. Bathroom, back yard, kitchen… nothing but baseball! Plus, it is always good to give hope and help other people. It was a great experience to create a stronger team bond."
"When we left for Alabama, we didn't know what to expect. By the time we returned, we became more competitive and grew even closer as a team," stated senior catcher James Lovett.
Senior outfielder Mike Toreno said, "I really enjoyed the experience with my teammates, and I felt like I was experiencing the movie Field of Dreams in person. Other than the outside showers in freezing temperatures, there were no negatives to the trip. After we got back, I felt like we had come together as a family, not just teammates."
The laid back atmosphere of Baseball Country was exactly what the Battling Bishop Baseball team needed. There was definitely a feeling of home -- from the small barn where players enjoyed team meals to Kenny's dogs who always seemed to come around at meal time. The path from the headquarters to the barn offered the best in wide open country living.
"The dogs were awesome, and it was a really nice place to stargaze," stated senior outfielder Justin DiSanto,
The trip was important to the Bishops because the team realized the importance of their role with each other and the impact they could have on others physically and spiritually,
Senior infielder Chris Rogerson added, "The Alabama trip was a learning experience for me. It taught me that it never costs anything to lend a helping hand to others that may need it. It's important to always keep God close no matter what you may be going through. He will guide you in the direction that He wants you to go."
Senior pitcher Robert Mondoux said, "You will look back on this and remember how many lives you changed. We became more than a team after our trip, we became a family."
Commented senior outfielder Kaelan Jacobs, "Baseball Country helped our team realize the big picture. We became closer to each other, closer to God, and closer to our goal of becoming more well-rounded young men."
"The trip to Alabama was a good way to escape everyday life, while spending time and bonding with teammates outside of the baseball field," said senior infielder Marcus Anderson.
Senior pitcher Andrew Franklin said, "The trip to Alabama was an eye-opening experience in more ways than one. It bettered us for life and made us come together as a unit, a team."
Senior infielder James Kornegay, who wrote the majority of this piece and compiled its quotes, summed up by saying, "These are quotes from the 2016 Battling Bishop Senior class, who wanted to express how they felt about this humbling experience. Going somewhere where we did not know anyone and then doing anything we could to help others really showed me as a senior what our team is capable of this year. Going out of our way to better somebody else's surroundings bettered us as young men, and it was great for the whole team to experience it together! I know for a fact it brought the whole team closer together because our bond is so much stronger than in the past years, and I'm thankful for that in every way!"