I decided to get up at 6:30 this morning and start the day off in the Word in the lobby. This lasted one chapter as a very nice fellow from Tennessee started talking to me. The bus driver for King's College out of Bristol, TN, struck up a conversation with me just about life, baseball, and travelling. We continued this talk into the dining room for breakfast. He was a very nice person to talk too and had a lot of life stories from his journeys.

After a quick lunch, we were off to see the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Field. We all had $5 tickets but sat in the lower deck. I sat with Stefan Alinkas along the first base line about 25 rows up. It was a very good view of the field and players from our seat. It was nice to be that close to the action.

Watching the Cincinnati Reds for me was a lot of fun because of their starting catcher today, Ryan Hanigan. Ryan was a freshman at Rollins College 10 years ago when I was the sports information assistant doing my internship. It was so cool seeing somebody in the big leagues knowing that I knew him before he made it there. Ryan is the first athlete that I worked with to every make it to the major leagues. I have had athletes be undrafted NFL free agents, sign NBA D-League contracts, and work up to as high as triple A in the minors but never make the big show. Hanigan is the first one and it pretty cool to see that.

We had to leave the game after the 7^th inning to get back to the hotel so coach could make it to his meeting. In that time span, Cincinnati went from being down 2-1, to 4-1 and then won the game in the bottom of the ninth, 5-4. We missed all that action but did listen to it on the radio. It isn't the end of the world to miss it but it would have been cool to see.

The NCCAA put on a great show tonight for the banquet and speakers. We had a choice of chicken or brisket sandwiches, cole slaw, green beans, and macaroni and cheese. We then were given Grader's Ice Cream which was over the edge. After they stuffed us with great food, we moved to the auditorium to learn more about Prasco and the NCCAA.

Listening to Mr. Arington talk about how he started Prasco, what it means, and how he runs is business was very inspiring. He started the business when he was 65 years old. The first thing they do with their profits is tithe them. They use their position as a ministry for the community and have this written in their mission statement.

Frank Tanana, who was a pitcher on the Detroit Tigers when they won the 1984 World Series, spoke to all of the athletes about his time in the major leagues and how he really came to know Jesus Christ. He entered the major leagues in 1971 but it was not until 1983 that he really got it in being a Christian. It was another great talk. Also in attendance tonight was former University of Cincinnati head football coach Mike Godfrey and former University of Kentucky baseball coach Keith Madison.

Travelling with the baseball team is always an adventure. You never know what will happen on a baseball trip. I think it is fitting that I had the chance to start the season with the team on a road trip to the Metrodome and now I get to finish the season on the road in the NCCAA World Series.

I drove a van with five players in it and the all the luggage. We followed the Judson bus led by Coach Rich Benjamin. We left Judson at 1:30 p.m. and ended up at Kings Island at about 10 p.m. central time. We had a few Garmin issues and stopped off to eat at a nice little pizza place in Batesville, IN, called LaRosa. The service was good and we received a great deal from the establishment.

Some of the highlights of the trip were watching some of the players throw rocks into a pond at a gas station in Indiana, chilling at a McDonalds in Merrillville, IN, and listening to the players talk in my van about life, sports, and quoting "Finding Nemo" on the computer because they could not here it. It is great listening to grown collegiate athletes quote Nemo and try to find the right voice for it.

A new addition to this blog is "Where's Jake." Each day a photo will be taken of pitcher Jake Zappia of the places we will be at. This section just sort of happened as I was taking twit pics he was in each one on accident so at supper at LaRosa's I suggested that we do a "Where's Jake" section for the blog. So, below are pictures of Jake at our stops today coming to Ohio.

Tomorrow features community service, a Cincinnati Reds game, and the NCCAA banquet featuring former Detroit Tiger and World Series Champion pitcher Frank Tananna.