Valley Christian baseball has a bond that goes deeper than baseball. A bond that has modified their crew fully since serving within the Dominican Republic.
“We went there as a baseball crew, however we got here again as a household,” head coach Vince Lagatta mentioned.
The ENGAGE program at Valley Christian is a program that encourages its college students to go on a mission journey to serve their neighborhood, whether or not it’s regionally, again dwelling in sure states, or globally to make an affect.
College students at Valley Christian have two weeks of spring break. One week is devoted to their enterprise journey and the opposite to their leisure. The selection is as much as the coed when and the place they resolve to go throughout this week.
“Now we have all the time had a requirement for companies for our college students. We (Valley Christian) felt it could be extra significant to have extra college students do it collectively,” Athletic Director Greg Haagsma mentioned.
Valley Christian's baseball crew, mother and father and employees got here collectively to resolve to take their crew on a highway journey collectively as a substitute of getting the crew unfold out over a two-week interval for enterprise journeys. The complete baseball crew wished to have greater than a crew bond, however to create a brotherhood on and off the sector.
“We wished to make a journey with our crew the place we may construct brotherhood and neighborhood,” middle fielder Brock Johnson mentioned. “But additionally use the presents that God has given us to go and serve in the way in which that we all know how. So the Dominican Republic was the right place.
The Valley Christian baseball crew has partnered with Two Twelve Worldwide of Mesa. Their firm had already organized comparable journeys and charted Valley's keep, serving to them attain their vacation spot.
On the finish of the Valley, his mission was to give you a ministry and do it in many alternative ways in which may affect the neighborhood within the Dominican Republic as he envisioned. The baseball crew held a donation drive in December the place they have been in a position to acquire over 1,000 items of used baseball gear from their neighborhood.
“We introduced them down in 18 huge 50-pound baggage. Sneakers, baggage, bats, gloves, clothes. Every part you may consider,” Lagatta mentioned.
Soccer cleats have been a giant problem for a lot of youngsters within the Dominican Republic who don't have entry to enjoying baseball.
“One had an Adidas on one foot and a Nike on the opposite,” Jackson mentioned.
The Trojans have been in a position to bless many of those kids with matching pairs in addition to many different gear they introduced.
Valley Christian additionally had the privilege of internet hosting a baseball camp for boys within the Dominican Republic, ages 11-17. The Trojans have been in a position to prepare and work together with the kids and instantly felt a bond type between them over the times.
Jackson's first language is Spanish. Regardless of the language barrier that was there, he was in a position to talk and translate to the kids.
“It was a blessing and an thrilling expertise for me. Nevertheless it didn't matter with the language barrier. It didn't matter to us or them. We have been nervous at first, however after the primary day it felt like we had recognized one another for a very long time,” Jackson mentioned.
Valley Christian wished to point out how grateful they have been for the house they have been ready to make use of to host the camp within the Dominican Republic by devoting a day to cleansing the amenities.
“We didn't ask them in any respect, we have been nearly prepared to start out cleansing and every thing, besides these youngsters, began serving to us. Everybody grabbed trash baggage and gloves and went straight to work,” mentioned shortstop Gavin Smith.
After getting back from the Dominican Republic, Valley baseball coaches and athletes now have a brand new perspective on how unified their pitching has change into.
“No different crew has what we now have. They didn't get to expertise that journey and expertise the issues we have been in a position to accomplish with the service. That bond, no different crew has that bond,” Jackson mentioned.
A visit to the Dominican Republic for Valley Christian baseball linked them on a deeper degree. An unforgettable journey that set them up for the remainder of the season and life.
“The individuals who have been there have been fully affected. Each on our aspect and on the Dominican aspect. As we went there to affect them, they influenced us far more. We got here away higher individuals due to it,” Lagatta mentioned.
