Spring Training Opening Game

Today was our first game of the spring season. It was great being back in competition. We played up in Ginoza where the Hanshin Tigers have their spring camp in the month of February. Today they returned home, so, we were able to take the field. We lost 6-3 because of a couple of rough innings. I was blessed to throw the 8th inning. I gave up one single, a strikeout, and a ground ball double-play to end the inning. Tim and Ayu also came out w/ little Masaki to watch the game. Praise the Lord! God is good!

Right Around the Corner

Lately, it has been raining cats and dogs! Our regular field has been too wet to practice on, and so, we've been training down at the beach and at the Itoman city office. Our trainer, Hama san, has returned to mainland. I was a little sad to see him go since he's such a great guy, but, a little happy since the training load just got a little lighter! We'll be headed back into scrimmage games this Thursday and Friday. Our first game is on Monday the 1st at Ginoza stadium where the Hanshin Tigers have their spring camp. May God be glorified always through the game of baseball! God bless you!

Spring Camp Begins

Our spring camp has started! Today, we met at the stadium and took the Enagic bus down to our new practice facility for spring training. These are just a few pictures of our scrimmage game we had this morning. Everyday, we will be having seat batting scrimmage games to determine roster positions. It's a little hard to believe, but our team is carrying 16 pitchers this year. There will be no cuts, yet, only 8 guys will be able to be on the active roster. This means that 8 guys will be inactive bench players for the beginning of the season. It's all in the Lord's Hands! I'm looking forward to some real good competition. So far, these guys have come out to play! Please continue to pray for the Lord to stir up the hearts of these baseball players towards Him.

WBC Japan

This is Seiichi Uchikawa from the Yokohama Baystars. He played on the Japanese World Baseball Classic championship team. He is real famous in Japan. Last Tuesday night he was signing plenty of autograph's and meeting fans at the Baystars camp opening ceremony. I was blessed to be in attendance.

The Yokohama Baystars

On Tuesday night, I was invited along w/ a few guys on the team to attend the Yokohama Baystars opening ceremony for spring training here in Okinawa. Every February, pro teams from mainland Japan come to Okinawa for training camp because of the warm weather. We were able to watch the ceremony as the players came out onto the stage at the ANA hotel in Ginowan. Afterwards, there was food and time to meet the players and take pictures. The top picture is a picture of a few of the Enagic guys. The two pictures in the center are of the few Americans the Baystars have signed to play here in Japan. The second picture from the bottom is former major league pitcher Chris Bootcheck who played for the Los Angeles Angels and the Pittsburgh Pirates. He had asked me what brought me to Japan and I was able to share about what God is doing here in Okinawa. He then shared with me that he was also a Christian and did a lot of ministry back in the states with other Christians players around the majors. He mentioned that he had a lot of free time while he's here and was interested in coming to church. His field is only 10 minutes away for the Calvary Ginowan. Please pray for our brother that he would be able to witness to the Japanese players while being apart of the team. God is good and working through His people!!