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| Lake Erie Monarchs |
The Lake Erie Monarchs aren't just any team though, they are also a Catholic Apostolate (Ministry). The National Catholic Register wrote a piece about the team a few months ago:
Founded in 1999, the Monarchs are a summer collegiate team and ministry of Catholic Baseball Players for Christ, an evangelization apostolate that is spreading the Gospel in and through baseball. The group also is seeking to build a network of Catholic baseball players, coaches, fans and supportive families across the United States.This is a great concept, and a really great way to minister to others about God. These young men know what they are getting into when they join the team and in doing so are being quite courageous and stepping out in the faith. It helps the players and helps the community, as the team is heavily involved in youth baseball programs. As for personal faith growth, the team has entrusted their formational help to a priest who formerly played collegiate baseball. This is about God as well as Baseball, a combo that for most American boys is a can't miss.
With a roster of 29 freshmen and sophomores from schools like Notre Dame, the University of Michigan, Penn State and Texas Tech, the Monarchs are on the field from June until August doing what scores of other college baseball players do around the country every summer: playing wood-bat baseball to showcase themselves to Major League Baseball scouts.
Believed to be the only such team in the country with a Catholic identity, the Monarchs are part of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League, one of eight leagues sanctioned and supported by Major League Baseball, said Jim DeSana, president of Catholic Baseball Players for Christ and Monarchs general manager. To supplement MLB support, each team in the league raises additional funds, and each player pays a fee to be part of a team.
It is refreshing to see something like this actualize and succeed. In the culture that we live in, the idea of putting your faith front and center into something like sports is a brave but honorable thing to do. There are few people willing to risk their reputation, especially one that could one day end up in the professional ranks, on something like their faith. So to see young men, some very committed and some simply open to the idea, so willing and up front about their faith is refreshing to me as both a Catholic and a father. I am glad I found out about this team, and will from this point forward consider myself a Monarch faithful!
I was made aware of this team by fellow Alaskan Catholic Blogger - Dan from GLACC. My family and I are going to try and join his family tonight and root on the home team... and the Catholic team! So fellow Alaskans, there are a few more games in the state, try and check them out if you can and for my Michigan folks - they play down in Ohio (I KNOW!) but not far from Toledo, so take a road trip and support them!
Here is their schedule while in Alaska:
- Thur. 9 vs. Kenai Peninsula Oilers
- --Kenai, Alaska 7:00
- Fri. 10 vs. Kenai Peninsula Oilers
- --Kenai, Alaska 7:00
- Sat. 11 vs. Kenai Peninsula Oilers
- --Kenai, Alaska 7:00
- Sun. 12 vs. Matsu Miners
- --Palmer, Alaska 4:00
- Mon. 13 vs. Alaska Goldpanners
- --Fairbanks, Alaska 7:00
- Tue. 14 vs. Alaska Goldpanners
- --Fairbanks, Alaska 7:00
- Wed. 15 vs. Alaska Goldpanners
- --Fairbanks, Alaska 7:00
For more info please check out:
- Lake Erie Monarchs (Team Site)
- Monarchs on Facebook
- Monarchs on Twitter
- Catholic Baseball Players for Christ
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