Faith on the Field: Sometimes softball is about more than just sport

Hank Greenly stands at the corner of first base, ready to tag out any runner that crosses his path. The active 69-year-old wears a dusty blue T-shirt that says Sandy Creek Baptist Church and two black-and-gray knee braces that keep his legs working properly.

When Hank comes in to sit on the bench while he waits to bat, he sits next to various members of his church, including Josh Miller, a 17-year-old. Not everywhere can you find teams comprised of players aged 17 to 70, but you can at church league softball.

Doug Miller, an axiliaiary player for Sandy Creek, said he especially likes the church league's ability to bring players of all ages together.

But wide age gaps aren't the only thing that set the church league apart from other softball leagues. Arguably the most noticable difference is the involvement of prayer. At the beginning and end of the games, both teams make a circle around the pitcher's mound and pray for each other's ministries and health.

"Usually the home team leads the prayer and the visiting team finishes it," says Andy Yoffie, an umpire for the Amateur Softball Association that officiates several church league games. "It makes the game go better."

The players don't let religious differences affect the game and the way the nine teams treat one another.

"All the chuches we've played serve the same God as we do, so no problem," says Rex Adams, co-coach of Sandy Creek's team. "We don't mix that well as far as going to services, but on the ball diamond, we're all the same.

Yoffie says there is a noticeable difference between regular co-ed softball and church league softball.

"They represent themselves well," Yoffie said. "It's just good courteous softball. If someone gets hurt, everybody's concerned about it, which doesn't happen that much out here. If one team's on the field and one of their players get hurt, the team batting will go get ice for them."

Tim Winborne, pastor of worship and students at Crossroads Fellowship, sees church league softball as something bigger than playing a game and having fun. He says church-sponsored sporting activities serve as an opportunity for fellowship and outreach.

"A lot of people use different avenues for outreach," Winborne said. "Some people do it at the golf course; they invite their friends. Some people do it at work. This is just another avenue we've used to invite people."

Winborne said that sometimes members become more active in church activities and attend church more frequently after becoming involved in church sponsored sports.

"In the five years that I've been here, we've probably seen four to seven folks that are new members of our church get involved with softball," Winborne said. "And now they are sticking with us because of the softball program."