Nothing develops relationships like baseball does. The long road trips, practices, games and experiencing major life events together such as weddings creates a bond that lasts well beyond the time wearing jerseys.
While celebrating wins together is always a high, being there to navigate through the tough losses are when teammates are most valuable.
Thinking back on all the games you’ve played, what is the game that stings a bit when you think back on it?
Personally, having the chance to play in a state championship game was a highlight but losing by a run and being the tying run on second when the game ended was a tough pill to swallow. As much as I still wish the outcome would have been different, my life isn’t affected daily because of the outcome of a single game played over a decade ago.
Why do I mention this? We can in the moment sometimes forget that beyond baseball there are moments that will have a much more lasting impact for better or worse.
As I’ve thought about the community Baseball and Business is and continues to become, the real value for everyone is the ability to relate both on and off the field. I recently received a message from a current Orioles minor leaguer after reading Javi Salas’ article that read, “What a great article! Love the family that baseball has given to me.”
I recently connected with Brett McCullough, a former college baseball player who broke the University of West Florida single- season record for wins his senior year.
Like some of us have already experienced, his family grew beyond baseball and got married. Unfortunately, he experienced the ultimate loss when his wife unexpectedly and suddenly passed away last March. He and his young daughter are survived to continue on without her.
Baseball is more than a game. Brett gets this and is heading into his first season as head coach at Pine Forest High School in Pensacola, Florida. In an article by the Pensacola News Journal Brett stated, “We’re not here to build a program. We’re here to build a family, and that’s what it will be.”
The reason we keep this community exclusive is that I often have people soliciting for something from us. This is a community of baseball players for the benefit of baseball players. When I heard this unfortunate news, I wanted to see what we could do to help as a community.
Brett shared that if you’d like to support him as he builds this baseball family going into the 2018 season, the Eagle Baseball Parent Association is incorporated as a 501(c)(3), and is funded by parents, the Pensacola community as well as outside individual or business sponsors. Contributions to Eagle Baseball are fully tax-deductible.
100% of all donations will go directly towards their program and be applied towards facility improvements, batting cage netting, baseball equipment, uniforms and baseballs. If you are interested in either donating baseball equipment or making a monetary donation, please contact Brett at bmccullough@escambia.k12.fl.us or by calling the school directly at 850-941-6150.
If you feel moved to give in either way in any amount, I know this will mean much to Brett as he navigates this challenging time. Thanks for your consideration!
