Mission Trip: Construction and Evangelization
Our Mission
The Mission Office encourages the people of the Diocese of Orlando to accept the responsibilities incumbent on all followers of the Gospel to share their time, talent, and treasure, with those who have limited access to the wealth and resources of the earth. We help to inspire people to become the voice of those who have none. Together, with the people we serve, we seek to find creative solutions to the root causes of injustice in our global community.
In this trip ….
Pioneer League Tryouts
Let’s get it started! An amazing weekend of baseball with aspiring professional baseball players to compete for a draft selection concluding the Pioneer League Tryouts in Central Florida.
It was an awesome experience to network with the Pioneer League managers and staff and a beautiful weekend to play baseball with BaseballCloud and Yakkertech technology: baseball performance analytics compiled from real-time data.
While I was not drafted in this event, I received encouragement about my professionalism and performance by numerous staff in the league and players at the tryout! Next time boys… keep playing and keep working!
Catholic Schools Week: Professionals in the Community
I heard inspiration to live out my unique calling in an evangelical conference with words to the effect of:
“If we were all called to be priests, who would we administer to…?”
We are each uniquely made; therefore, we are each uniquely called! Now that we know we have a unique journey and destination planned for each one of us, how do we do that? What am I supposed to do now? How do I live out my faith in my calling? In my Vocation?
These are questions we must keep asking as we walk with God…
Understanding the Baptism of Jesus helps you dive deeper in faith by walking in your vocation.
In this instance, I was asked to participate as part of a panel of Catholic Professionals in the Community! I was very excited to join the floor and learn alongside the students about our local community members serving as military priests, a combat meteorologist, a county commissioner, physicists, and - yours truly - a baseball engineer!
This is my first public profession of faith in front of an audience… It was incredible to share my journey with a few extra passengers through a glimpse of my trials, challenges, pains, failures, successes, growth, joys, smiles, laughs, tears, and all!
The students are from Saint Mary Catholic School in my hometown. I had a major realization as I was looking into the eyes of this attentive youth eager to learn about our passions beyond school: the Virgin Mother Mary was only 2 years older than some of these students when she declared her “Yes!” to the Lord through the appearance of Archangel Gabriel at her annunciation!
The Western League Tryouts 2023
TRYOUTS for WINTERBALL in HOUSTON
It’s time to get weird… The Austin Weirdos of the Pecos League are hosting winter ball in Houston as The Western League. Time to showcase my performance for a chance to compete in HOUSTON, TEXAS!
Let’s get weird and play ball!
Mission Trip: Education
Our Mission
The Mission Office encourages the people of the Diocese of Orlando to accept the responsibilities incumbent on all followers of the Gospel to share their time, talent, and treasure, with those who have limited access to the wealth and resources of the earth. We help to inspire people to become the voice of those who have none. Together, with the people we serve, we seek to find creative solutions to the root causes of injustice in our global community.
In this trip ….
Dragons #1 v. Mustangs
Dragons keep the lead in the Fall 2023 season facing off with the Mustangs in the first round of playoffs for Okaloosa Men’s Baseball League. Win or go home - single elimination. Winner of this game goes to the championship game…
Dragons #1 v. #2
Dragons take the lead in the Fall 2023 season facing off with the #2 team towards playoff placement for Okaloosa Men’s Baseball League
Blue Wahoos: Women in Sports
Pensacola's Best Provide insight for the Blue Wahoos community on Women In Sports Night
Q&A at 3pm in the Season Ticket Member lounge
Penny Belford - PSC WBB HC
Stephanie Lawrence-Yelton - UWF WBB HC
Alexis “Scrappy” Hopkins - Pro baseball player
Melissa Hampton - Blue Wahoos Athletic Trainer
Dragons @ Mustangs
Dragons take the 7-inning evening game!
Offense: 0.667 BA, 4 PA, 3 AB (BB, single, FC, single), 2 RBI
Defense: 2B 4 innings, 1B 1 inning
Dragons v. Wildcats
Opening game of the season with a long time-capped game versus the orange Wildcats. A hard-fought game lost 15-14 in the bottom of the 8th with no time remaining to complete regulation innings.
Offense: 0.500 BA, 4 PA, 4 AB (single hit, single bunt, K, FC)
Defense: 2B - 2 innings, C - 2 innings, P - 1 inning
Blue Wahoos Chevy Youth Camp
The Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Gulf Coast Chevy Dealers hosts a series of free youth baseball instructional clinics on Friday, August 4th and Saturday, August 5th at Blue Wahoos Stadium
A special time to develop skills for ages 6-14 and work with awesome ballplayers from the Miracle League of Pensacola!
Team USA Baseball Women's National Open
The WNO is an opportunity to spend three days in Mesa, AZ at the Chicago Cubs Spring Training facility to learn and enhance techniques from prominent women in baseball and compete for a Team USA roster spot on the Women’s National Team.
Fred Waters Baseball Camp
Fred Waters inspires my community big time in baseball and what it means to care for the people around us. Mr. Waters was an incredible baseball player impacting the Pensacola community as a player, coach, leader, and many other hats. He supported the careers of many aspiring baseball players, now reaching generations!
Quint Studer is a compassionate leader. He reignited Mr. Water’s flame in Pensacola inviting many awesome guests to host a FREE clinic for Pensacola youth. This event was incredible for ballplayers of all ages! Mr. Studer, Mike Russel, Kevin Saucier, and Bill Vilona really knocked this one out of the park!
I am grateful for the privilege and honor to learn, coach, and play as a guest instructor alongside many incredible players, scouts, coaches, personnel of the Miami Marlins AA team - the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, and Pensacola community to enjoy a beautiful day of baseball on this day promoting what it really means to be a ballplayer: to play the game.
The Texas Smoke Tryouts
Invitation to Professional SOFTBALL Tryouts by the second professional sports team in Austin, TX and the fourth franchise in Women's Professional Fastpitch (WPF) - The Texas Smoke.
Such an honor to take the field again with THE Brandon Phillips and highly respected Courtney Hawkins - this time with a different ball. Check out the DNA of this incredible organization!
Any diamond, any position, watch how I earn the name ‘Scrappy’ playing for the Glory of God! Be ready Austin, TX… I’m bringing the heat!
Welcome to DA SHOW
Frontier League Tryouts 2023
Tryouts for the Frontier League 2023 season seeking an opportunity to showcase my performance as a professional baseball player.
Rocket City Trash Pandas Game
Catcher on the mound - time to launch!!!!!
My dad and I arrived in Huntsville, AL in just enough time to catch the Angels AA Rocket City Trash Pandas game as a pit-stop for the night on my way to the 2023 Frontier League tryouts. They were playing a double-header against Milwaukee Brewers’ AA team - the Biloxi Shuckers.
Taking in the sights and sounds of an atmosphere I hope to play in some day, we were exploring the stadium just as fans this time. By lucky chance, I talked to some of the awesome RCTP staff in the concourse who I got to share my journey as a dual professional: software engineer at Booz Allen Hamilton (the team’s major sponsor) and baseball player. They excitedly directed me to a desk and the next 10 minutes were a whirlwind standing in a line… then marching out onto the field! I was so excited to throw the FIRST first pitch of the second game that night!
“Now taking the mound pitching for Booz Allen Hamilton… it’s Scrappy!”
Baseball Scouting League Exhibition
On the hunt to fight for a contract to play in the 2023 season. Prospective players from anywhere can compete in 5 days of games at Santaluces Fields in West Palm Beach, FL to showcase for Atlantic League, American Association, Frontier League, LMB, and USPBL managers. This event is crucial in being placed on a professional baseball team early in the season and networking with players and staff looking for the next connection in developing a career in the greatest game!