November 26, 2015
MARSHALL, Texas (11/24/15) - The game of baseball has many ways in which to rate how good a player or a team is performing. Statistical categories like won-loss records, batting averages, fielding averages, earned run average and slugging percentages provides a way to measure success. The East Texas Baptist University Tiger baseball team is presently accumulating a stat, volunteer service hours, that will not show in a box score but is very impressive.
Tiger Baseball is making an impact in the Marshall community as players are serving in many capacities. This past October, the team helped J.H. Moore Elementary conduct a Halloween Festival for their students and families.
"The team was in charge of setting up and manning around 20 different booths for the kids to participate in," ETBU head baseball coach Jared Hood said. "There was a cake-walk, ring toss, ball toss, and some face painting booths that our 40 players had a blast doing. ETBU grad and current teacher at Moore, Tiffany Stevenson, asked us to be involved in the Fall Festival, which we were glad to do."
The team is very familiar with giving their time as NCAA student/athletes at Moore Elementary. The Tigers conduct a "Big Brother" type mentorship program at the school located close to the ETBU campus. "For the past four years, every one of our players has been assigned a student to mentor," Hood said. "The players go to the campus and meet at least once a week during lunch, reading, or recess periods to mentor their student."
According to Moore Elementary principal Dr. Melinda Jennings, "Not only do the baseball players impact the students they mentor, but the other students love to see them as well."
"We want our students at Moore to see that there is a future beyond high school and it possible right here in Marshall," Dr. Jennings said. "This program gives many of our young men the opportunity to have a male role model in their lives that is positive and motivating."
"I love the mentor program we do at J.H. Moore," Tiger outfielder Zach Ervin said. "Personally, going into the community to serve is what we are called to do as Christians; it gives me a sense of satisfaction, but also pushes me to serve as Jesus served."
Junior second basemen Connor Combs shared, "Every Tuesday I walk in and the kids light up. We are there for about an hour and we just hang out with our buddies and talk. We talk about school, their behavior, their friends, anything they need help with. It is amazing how simple conversation and your presence can mean so much to these kids, and it is another way for us to be a light in the community."
The team also assisted First United Methodist Day School at their October Fall Festival. Other events are: the 9/11 Heroes Run benefiting the Travis Manion Foundation; served 160 people at Mission Marshall; participated in the Marshall Ford Drive One for Your School Fundraiser for Marshall High School; and served hot dogs to children and families at Washington Early Childhood Center.
"By serving in the community it gives us as baseball team a positive outlook and relationship with the Marshall Community," Ervin shared. "It is good for the team to develop a habit of service as a part of this team, it is so much more than playing baseball, it?s developing a brotherhood that looks and walks like Jesus does."
Last year, Tiger baseball accumulated over 350 hours of community service. According to Hood, the team wants to go over that mark this year.
"When doing these types of things, you never know who you might influence, who you may help, who you may bring joy and hope to," Hood said. "I don't think I have challenged the team to be involved to serve as much as Christ has challenged all of us. If we can influence just one person to follow Jesus Christ, just by showing them the love that He showed us, then we have done as he commanded of his disciples."
In the weeks ahead, they will be unloading delivery trucks for the United Churches of Marshall Food Pantry and continue their mentor program at Moore Elementary.
"There is always a good feeling you get when you know you are helping someone, but that's not why we are out in the community," Combs said. "Tiger baseball goes out in the community because we know as believers in Jesus Christ we are called to be the hands and feet for the kingdom, and we do that by serving in a community that desperately needs to see that love."
Combs and Ervin both believe they are blessed to be a part of Tiger baseball which has a broader purpose than playing the game.
"Yes, we want to win games and even championships but our emphasis on discipleship and building community throughout Marshall is of that same importance," Ervin said. "The Lord is doing cool things among this team."