Playing ball, sharing faith a double play for Wayland senior

PLAINVIEW—Infielder Calvin Bass turned a memorable double play each of the past three summers—playing the game he loves and serving the God he loves through Athletes in Action.

Calvin Bass of Plainview, a student at Wayland Baptist University, prepares to swing at the next pitch in a match-up between his Athletes in Action team, the Alfred Thunder, and a rival team in the New York Collegiate Baseball League.

During the school year, Bass plays second base at Wayland Baptist University, where his father, Brad, is head coach of the Pioneers baseball team.

The Wayland senior returned to Plainview this semester after his third summer on the Alfred Thunder, a New York Collegiate Baseball League team based in upstate New York. Bass was a utility infielder for the Thunder, playing mostly first or second base and designated hitter.

His team played the other six teams in their division six times each. Most of their league rivals were within a few hours’ drive from Alfred, south of Buffalo near the Pennsylvania line. The team’s routine was not unlike a minor league ball club—frequent travel and a busy game schedule. But the team’s off-the-field activities set it apart.

“We’d start out every morning with a Bible study for an hour or so, then we’d head to the field for pregame stuff and practice,” he said. “Some mornings or on our days off, we’d do a service project in the community or at the church.”

At Alfred Almond Bible Church, team members helped lead Vacation Bible School and other ministries.

Athletes in Action—a ministry of Campus Crusade—provides a team of Christian players from around the country to play in collegiate leagues. Athletes in Action sponsors teams in New York, Alaska and the Great Lakes area.

Besides playing ball against other league teams, members of the Athletes in Action team share Christian testimonies before or after their games with opponents.

Since many of the players on the other league teams were not committed Christians, Bass said, that time gave him and his teammates a chance to share the gospel and their personal faith. It also opened up conversations one-on-one with those who had more questions, he added.

Members of the Athletes in Action team grew in their walk with God by sharing their faith and through daily Bible studies, Bass said.

“The best thing for me was the Bible study every day that helped me stay where I needed to be. Plus, our team shared the same basic beliefs, and they were there for the same purpose—they wanted to learn and grow while playing baseball,” Bass said. “For me, that was exciting to see that there are other people who want to grow in their Christian faith.”

Bass enjoyed making friends on the team to whom he could be accountable in his Christian walk.

“We all have our own lives at school and in the summer on the team,” he said. “I still keep in touch with a couple of the guys, and we make sure that we’re doing what we’re supposed to be doing.

“The experience has reminded me to think about what I’m doing and try to be a better example of Christ on my campus.”