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First of all, a quote from Angels rookie outfielder Terry Evans on hitting a 2-run homer for his first Major-League hit in his first start last Wednesday:
"What an amazing blessing for my first hit to be a home run, for my dad to see it, and to win the game," Evans said. "I wanted to contribute in some way."
Here's the article: http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/angels/la-sp-angels21jun21,1,955737.story?coll=la-headlines-sports-mlb-angels. (originally found at: http://mlb.mlb.com/pa/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070621&content_id=2041661&vkey=mlbpa_news&fext=.jsp)
Here's a quote from a Q & A article with Astros rookie outfielder Hunter Pence:
MLBPLAYERS.com: How did it feel to be named the National League's Rookie of the Month for May?
Pence: It was humbling. It was a humbling thing to win that award. It is a big deal and it's something that can never be taken away. I'm really proud of that honor. On the other hand, I take it with a grain of salt and just move on. The focus needs to stay on today.
Here's the article: http://mlb.mlb.com/pa/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070622&content_id=2042179&vkey=mlbpa_news&fext=.jsp.
Next, an article about the charity work that Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. does and doesn't want anyone to know about. A note about the autographed balls that the article mentioned he was selling at the Reds/Mariners game this weekend: the balls sold out before the game even started. Here's the article: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070622/SPT04/706220390/1071/SPT.
Here's an article about 9th Inning Ministries, which was at the College Baseball World Series the past week plus. At the World Series, they passed out free bottles of water to the fans, coordinated baseball clinics in Omaha and Lincoln, sponsored an evangelistic breakfast featuring College World Series players and former Major League pitcher Kent Bottenfield, local hospital visits by professional and College World Series players, a Bible study for the series players. Here's their website: http://www.9th-inningministry.org/. Here's the article: http://www.bpsports.net/bpsports.asp?ID=5612.
Also, an article about 9th Inning Ministries breakfast at the College Baseball World Series, which included Kent Bottenfield, and World Series players: Mississippi State pitchers Justin Pigott and Aaron Weatherford, and Louisville catcher Justin Haywood. Here's the article: http://www.bpsports.net/bpsports.asp?ID=5613.
Here's an article about pitcher Mike Maroth (a Christian) being traded last Friday from the Tigers to the Cardinals: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070622&content_id=2042251&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb.
Next, a couple of quotes from Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano about former teammate Michael Barrett (both Christians) after Barrett's trade from the Cubs to the Padres:
In his four starts since the scuffle June 1, Zambrano is 3-1 with a 1.14 ERA (four earned runs over 31 2/3 innings) while striking out 35. Did he learn from that incident?
"I think you have to have pride," Zambrano said. "All players have to have pride. I was embarrassed by what I did to one of my teammates. I was embarrassed. I said, 'That's enough. ... I'm an All-Star. I'm a good pitcher and I have to settle down and shut it off and start a new season and start a new rally going.'"
He's done just that....
...Zambrano may have done well with Bowen, and catcher Koyie Hill, but he does miss Barrett, traded to the Padres on Wednesday.
"It's sad," Zambrano said. "Nobody wants to be traded. I know he didn't want to be traded. It's sad to watch him go. I wish him the best. It's sad, because he was my teammate. He was the guy behind you for four years. He's a good guy, great guy."
Here's the article: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20070622&content_id=2042697&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc.
Lastly, I found another Christian athlete's website, this time San Antonio Silver Stars Ruth Riley's: http://www.ruthriley.com/.
First of all, an interesting quote from Cubs manager Lou Piniella about the Cubs getting on a hot streak this season:
"It should've started a month ago," Piniella said. "We're in the middle of the summer almost. I think we all need to go to church and put more in the box."
Here's the article: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20070621&content_id=2040821&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc&partnered=rss_chc.
Here's a quote from Oregon State shortstop and Cubs 4th round draft pick Darwin Barney. The Beavers are playing in the championship round of the College World Series (posted on Cubs.com):
...Oregon State has reached the College World Series every year since Barney, a native of Beaverton, Ore., joined the team in 2004.
The success is not a coincidence. After the Beavers won the championship last summer, Barney went on to win a gold medal at the world university championships as a member of Team USA.
"I've been very blessed," Barney said modestly.
Here's the article: http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070621&content_id=263245&vkey=news_milb&fext=.jsp&partnered=rss_chc.
Next, a couple of articles about charity golf tournaments involving MLB players on Thursday. The first was for the Braves Foundation, with players Jeff Francoeur (a Christian), Kyle Davies, Tyler Yates, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, former Braves, and members of the front office taking part: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070621&content_id=2041204&vkey=news_atl&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl&partnered=rss_atl.
The other charity golf tournament was for the Pujols Family Foundation, which involved Cardinals players Pujols (of course--a Christian), Tony La Russa, Adam Wainwright (a Christian), Chris Duncan, Mark Mulder, Randy Flores, and Adam Kennedy. Also, the Phillies were in town for the series this weekend so there players Jimmy Rollins (a Christian), Shane Victorino, Abraham Nunez, and Antonio Alfonseca were there also, along with Texas Tech head basketball coach Bobby Knight and Notre Dame head football coach Charlie Weis. Here's the article: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070621&content_id=2041294&vkey=news_stl&fext=.jsp&c_id=stl.
Lastly, a couple of interesting articles about the trials of trying to make it to the Majors and stay there. The first is about players' headaches of being sent back and forth from the Minors and the Majors and what it does for their and their families living situations from some of the Braves point of view: http://www.ajc.com/braves/content/sports/braves/stories/2007/06/22/0624insidebb.html.
The other article is about former Major Leaguers who are playing for the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League. They all think that they deserve another chance in the Majors, and are trying to prove it. One of the players is former Met and Giant Edgardo Alphonso (a Christian), probably the most accomplished player and most ready to return to the Majors. Here's a quote about him:
A similar sentiment is routinely echoed by Alfonzo, the unofficial team guru and unfortunate leader among fans in the category of suddened He's-playing-where?s. A 12-year major league veteran with 1,532 lifetime hits, Alfonzo came to fame as the cornerstone of a mid-to-late 1990s New York Mets infield that Sports Illustrated once called "the best ever." He combined power, bat control and flawless defense into one of the game's most complete packages. Then, with San Francisco two seasons ago, it vanished.
One day, Alfonzo was among the game's elite second basemen. The next, he was Rick Schu. "There are a lot of factors," he says, speaking quietly in a clubhouse corner. Inches away is the fly, swarming above Alfonzo's head. He eyes it away. Eyes it again. Then continues. "Last year, I had trouble with playing time and began developing some bad habits. I still need to get my timing and confidence back. But I think it's coming around."
Later in the evening, Alfonzo's grand slam will lift Long Island (28-17 record) to a come-from-behind 9-8 triumph over Somerset before a capacity crowd of 6,011. Both LaPoint and Harrelson believe Alfonzo will be signed by a major league club sooner than later. "He's just too good," says LaPoint. "He can help a lot of teams."
Here's the article: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=pearlman/070621.
First of all, I was watching Rice in the College World Series last night, and I thought that some of the names sounded familiar. I went back and checked the articles that I had sent to you, and found a Christian one on the Rice baseball team from back in April (http://www.sharingthevictory.com/vsItemDisplay.lsp?method=display&objectid=04715208-C6B1-4378-953BAC0F51EED0E9). It was about juniors Joe Savery, Bobby Bramhall, and Brian Friday. On the bottom of the screen during the game it told when and by whom each of them were drafted: Savery in the 1st round by the Phillies, Friday in the 3rd round by the Pirates, and Bramhall in the 18th round by the Brewers. Here's an article about Savery being drafted: http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070607&content_id=2011822&vkey=news_phi&fext=.jsp&c_id=phi. Also, Rice won its 2nd game last night to take the lead in their bracket in the CWS. They get extra time off and wait for the winner of the Louisville/North Carolina game. Rice started and ended the season #1.
Here's a Father's Day article about Orioles 2nd baseman Brian Roberts, a Christian, and his dad: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070613&content_id=2023337&vkey=news_bal&fext=.jsp&c_id=bal.
Next, a Father's Day article about Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson, a Christian, and his kids. I thought that it was neat that he said that he was going to retire in a few years to become a full-time dad. Here's the article: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070610&content_id=2017915&vkey=news_pit&fext=.jsp&c_id=pit.
Here's an article about Red Sox infielder Alex Cora talking to highschoolers about volunteering in their communities this summer: http://mlb.mlb.com/pa/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070615&content_id=2027835&vkey=mlbpa_news&fext=.jsp.
Also, an article about Giants outfielder Dave Roberts, a Christian, standing ovation in his 1st return to Fenway Park in Boston since the 2004 post-season during the Giants/Red Sox game Friday: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070615&content_id=2028321&vkey=news_bos&fext=.jsp&c_id=bos.
Here's an article about what IU football incoming freshman Jeff Boyd had to say about coach Terry Hoeppner missing the upcoming season because of illness:
"It's going to be weird because (Hoeppner is) who I came to play for," said Boyd, an all-state defensive lineman from Warren Central High School's Class 5A state champions. "But it's still his staff, and I will do the best I can while I keep praying for him and hoping that he can return in good health."
Here's the article: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070616/SPORTS0601/706160501/1069/SPORTS0601.
Next, an article about Reds outfielder Josh Hamilton, a Christian, and throwing runners out at home plate: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070617/SPT04/706170420/1071/.
Lastly, an article about the Reds players and Father's Day. Here's some quotes from pitcher David Weathers and Josh Hamilton on fatherhood:
To closer David Weathers, being a father is old hat. He is the parent of son Ryan, 7, and daughters Karly, 3, and Ally, 9 months. They're worth more than a thousand saves. Said Weathers: "Being a father is the greatest honor of my life - to have three kids and raise 'em and try to teach them a good Christian way to live and make society better instead of worse. It's the best thing that ever happened to me."
For outfielder Josh Hamilton, who has two daughters, 6-year-old Julia and 21-month-old Sierra, being a parent helps him stay focused on himself as well as his family.
"Being a husband and father reminds me of the responsible person I have to be, the way my dad was when I was growing up," Hamilton said. "Watching him be a man, husband and father - supporting us and taking time with us - showed me how to do it. (The kids) do things that catch me off guard. At one moment, they do something or say something that is absolutely hilarious, and in the next moment they do something that drives me crazy. That's all part of it, learning how to do it. The Lord's helping me with it every day. It's fun.
"The family comes out to the ballpark every night."
Here's the article: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070617/SPT04/706170421/1071/rss08.
