Next year on January the 12th, I have a one day tryout with Enagic to see if I'll be returning for the 2011 season. Please keep the tryout in your prayers as the Lord leads and guides next season! Enagic released 15 players upon arrival of 10 new upcoming players. I was the last player to be released and so they wanted to give me another look. The season starts the 11th. So hopefully I'll be able to start again right where I left off and not miss a beat. Please stay updated as I will reveal the results soon after the tryout! God bless you!

rob

Another year in the books

Once again the season has come to an end. It was a season of high's and low's for me. I played the game like a roller-coaster. At times I pitched above my own game, and also as if I looked like I didn't belong! This is all part of the game! This year, unlike others past, I have learned so much about my team. I learned about the type of life they live here in Okinawa. The Japanese are so much different than Americans. The way they think and go about things are so much different then the way I do it! Especially in the game of baseball. I also do the best I can to come to their level, not expecting them to come to where I'm at. For if I desire to share Christ with them effectively, I must become like them culturally. Adapt to the Okinawan/Japanese culture. It's been so difficult! My Americanism is a fixture I can't seem to turn off. Well, by the grace of God I hope to continue on next season. Please pray for me as I take on another season at the age of 28!

Jesus is the reason I still play! Praise the Lord! God willing, see you next season! I'll be there!

In Christ,

rob

Big Kai Hatsu Game

Today we played one of the other company teams here on island. A housing company called Bigkaihatsu located down in Naha city. We eventually one the game 10-5. I came into to pitch with bases loaded and two outs in the top of the 6th. I was blessed to have struck out the next batter on four pitches. I threw the top of the 7th giving up 1 run on 2 hits. The first pitch was knocked into right center for a triple! The first triple I have ever given up in live play! 大丈夫! I went on to retire the next guy, but not before a bloop single scored the run. I finished with 1.1 innings pitched, 2 hits, and 2 k's. God really gave me some great strength and good control! The pitch of the triple I gave up was recorded at 143km(89) on the gun! I haven't thrown that hard since I was 21 in college. The Lord continues to do His work on the field. Please pray for the guys that they would come to know JESUS!

Okinawa Electric Company 沖縄電気

Tomorrow we play the Okinawa Electric Company for a practice game before the Nagasaki Tournament. Okiden is the best team in Okinawa! They're like the Yankees of Okinawa and maybe the NY Mets of Japan. I'll be pitching some relief tomorrow. May the Lord be glorified through baseball. If all goes well, I'll gain a roster spot for Nagasaki. I'm looking forward to tomorrow and all God has in store! It's going to be great! God bless you!

rob

Air Force Game Okinawa

We had a friendly game versus the Air Force team of Okinawa. They are a fairly new team, so it was a new experience playing against Americans. It's been a long time since I've heard English out on the field. W e defeated them 28-3! Quite a blow-out. I was blessed to be able to start the game. I gave up 2 runs in 3 innings, 2 walks and 6 k's.

Stay Tuned!

We have been officially ranked as one of the top teams in Okinawa. So now, there are no tournament games in Okinawa. We only have meaningful games in mainland Japan. Please continue to pray that these guys come to know Jesus! God has opened the doors for some one on one English classes with some of the guys. Hopefully I can get some more pics up of the upcoming practice games. We have a game tomorrow versus the Air Force team. Rain has been delaying a lot of practice and games for the past week.

God bless you all and please stay tuned!!!

Honda Practice Field

It was an honor to be able to practice at the Honda facility in Kumamoto. Thus far, our team has practiced on both the Nissan and Honda practice fields. It's really cool seeing a field dedicated for baseball only created directly by the company and mainly for the company team. Maybe one day we'll have an Enagic practice field? Lord willing!

Honda Kumamoto Game

We played Honda Kumamoto for our second practice game before the start of the tournament. Unfortunately, we were handed a 9-1 loss. Honda is a top team in Japan! They finished second in last years tournament losing to Mittsubishi Juko of Nagasaki.

Mittsubishi Nagasaki Game

We had a practice game against Mittsubishi Juko of Nagasaki on Tuesday. It was quite a long 3 hour drive up from Kumamoto. This stadium is called the Big N. This is wear the Softbank Hawks have their extended spring training. The game ended in a 3-3 tie. We were actually up 3-2 going into the 9th! Mittsubishi Juko won last years tournment against Honda Kumamoto.

Enagic Bible Study

We've been having the Bible study for about a few weeks now at the Enagic players dorm. This was the second study we had. Pastor Tim from Nago came down to help translate after Hakugaijin practice. Well, we didn't end up having the study because the guys ended up all going out for dinner. So, Tim and I were invited into one of the guys rooms to hang out and chat. It was a great opportunity to share our faith and our lives with these guys. Also, very interesting and uncommon, was to see the pitching coach was hanging out at the dorm with a few of the guys. He asked Tim and I so many questions about why we don't go out and party every night. Times like these are great since the guys get to see our character as Christians on and off the field. Please continue to pray for the Bible study that God would be the center!

Inside AU Cellular Stadium in Naha

This was our final practice game before heading to Kumamoto. We defeated Big Kaihatsu 4-3. Here are a few pictures of the inside of the new stadium down in Naha. It's brand new, so it's just immaculate!

Important Meeting

Today we had an important meeting leading up to the big tournament in Kyushu. The main boss (Mr. Oshiro) came out and congratulated the team along with achievement awards for the our manager and a few of the guys in charge of Enagic sports system. It was pretty tiring standing at the first meeting for about 40 minutes. Our second meeting was held at the players dorm and call center. This building is pretty sweet and is all manufactured distinctively for Enagic. This week is going to be pretty tough. I was told I'm right on the borderline to get into the game. I'll be the fourth pitcher for the tournament if I can maintain consistent outings out on the mound. We have a scrimmage game between ourselves on Thursday and then 2 practice games verses Bigkaihatsu on the 8th and the 10th at Cellular Stadium in Naha. This is it! Preparing for the big tournament as the number one seed. When we get to Kumamoto, we'll have two important practice games against Honda, and Mitsubishi. Looking forward to the challenge! Please pray for the Bible study this week. John 1:6-34. God bless!

Company Team Magazine

The other day after lunch, a few of the guys at the D-house and myself, went to local book store to check out the magazines. There was this company baseball issue with all the big companies in it. I thought I would check it out to see who was in it, and there we were, Enagic baseball team.

Go ahead and check my profile if you could read the small print or the Japanese. Awesome! Good stuff! Praise the Lord!

Itoman Mayor appreciation night

On Thursday night, out team was invited by the Itoman Mayor for a BBQ at Bibi beach in Itoman City. There was a lot of food along with many Itoman city officials giving encouraging speeches. We dawned our uniforms and introduced ourselves individually those who came. It was great being with the team and meeting new people.

On our way to Kyushu!

In the second game of the 81 inner city company tournament, Enagic defeated the Okinawa Electric Company in the second game of the tournament. The final score was 10-5. This ends Okiden's streak of 50 years of dominance. Meaning, this is the first time they did not qualify for this trip. As of now, Enagic is ranked the number 1 seed in Okinawa! Pretty exciting! Here are some newspaper clippings from the victory. If you look real hard, you can see I stick out like a sore thumb! It was a blessing! Looking forward to what the Lord has in store for this team!

Au Cellular Field

On Thursday, we had a game at the Au Cellular Field in Naha. This is where the Yomiuri Giants of the Nippon Professional Baseball League have their spring training. The stadium is brand new. We played BigKaihastsu, who is a local housing agency club team. We defeated them 4-1. This game comes prior to our tournament this weekend which will be held here at this stadium in Naha.

The first Bible study started later that night at the Enagic dorm. I will be posting those pics in a few weeks. 10 players came and heard the Gospel. We went over the Bible as history and started in the book of John. Please continue to pray for the hearts of these guys! I was was so blessed and blown away by the outcome. Next study is in two weeks and hopefully the guys will come week in and week out! God bless you!

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