Who says you can’t do and be everything your heart desires? I have always been drawn to a certain kind of soul - the dreamers, the doers, the ones with wild hearts who wear all the hats. Their courage, diversity, and stories inspire me so.  They chase visions, whispers, and divine nudges without any guarantee they’ll succeed but with faith and obedience.

Coaching was never a dream of mine. But making a difference always has been. And when God extended the invitation to try something new, I stepped in—curious, open, and relying on his power and strength to provide everything I’d need. It was certainly out of my comfort zone, but I’ve learned a lot about growth and how it only happens when you go beyond the limits of your comfort.

So here I am, coaching boys baseball as Coach Kelly, moving forward in obedience with this vision and trusting his ways are best. While I’m here, I’ll give it 110 % and keep living my personal motto: Whatever you do, do it with all your heart for the Lord (Col 3:23), until something else stirs and moves me.

As a former athlete, I know what it takes to give 110%. I understand the game and how to develop young athletes both on and off the field. I combine skill development with character-building, faith, and fun. I’m the coach who mixes in a little music, laughter, and joy while still pushing for excellence.

With all the mindset work I’ve been doing, the team was one of the first places, besides my own family, where I started sharing the transformative power of renewing our minds and how our thoughts influence our emotions and actions.

I wear many hats on the team as an assistant coach, including being our baserunning coach, managing our social media accounts, creating content for our team and socials, handling sponsorships, ensuring safety, being the team’s “fun” coach, and making sure they stay loose and have fun—while also reining it in and maintaining a laser focus. Of all the roles I take on, the mindset work is my favorite. I teach the boys about powerful mental strategies like visualization and mental rehearsal, the importance of renaming our fears to serve us, positive self-talk, and all the mental techniques top teams use with their athletes.

The birth of our Spirit-led 110 program

When we were in the first phase of starting up a travel baseball team, I was driving alone in my car and praying about how God would want me to be a part of this team. I honestly didn’t think I had the time or margin to incorporate coaching in my life. But, in an answer to my prayers, God provided a vision as clear as day, and that vision has shaped the foundation of our team’s elite status.

Like the movie, A Beautiful Mind, a sequence of sketches began to appear in my mind, like someone writing on a whiteboard, and an entire elite-level philosophy came to life in that moment that I knew would be our guiding light: “110 at Practice”

I remember coming home and sharing with Derrick how excited I was to have received whatever gift this was. I had to sketch it out immediately on a piece of paper and explain what I heard the Lord share with me. This is what I sketched out…

“110 @ Practice” and in Life

Here is what came to me: Most players play in the "safe zone" because that's where they are comfortable and don't fear failure. The problem with the safe zone is just that - it's safe. Safe serves us well for making smart percentage plays in games but growth won't occur from the safe zone. That's why we incorporate "110 @ practice". The more reps we make in this zone, the more we grow and the more confidence we gain for tournament play. We believe in muscle memory and that the effort put forth in practice will be what our bodies remember in tournaments. So, we have designated practices as a safe place to try new things, tall push limits, and attack at 110% effort! Diving for the hard hit line drive, sprinting for the pop up, bolting like lightning through first hase, or pitching with the eye of the tiger - these are all examples of 110! We will never get upset with a player for going 110 after a ball and missing.

So far, it’s been such a motivator for our team, coaches and the boys. We have fun with it and reward 110 effort by ringing a cowbell and making a big celebration out of it. When this happens, the boys watching want a piece of the fun so they push themselves hard to achieve a 110 celebration, as well! It’s contagious in the best ways. Not only has this been super fun but it’s also been an extremely effective coaching tool! Thank you, Jesus, for this help and gift!

I believe that 110 is not just about effort, it’s about mindset. I believe you can live with a Spirit of Excellence and do all things well if you put your mind to it. I believe that just like on the baseball field, in life, if you don’t push yourself out of your comfort zone, you will never grow. And I believe that the way you do anything is how you do everything. I feel the LORD is guiding me to take 110 Life further, perhaps in my life coaching call. Stay tuned to find out how.

It’s Missional - “Because of Baseball”

Because of baseball, we miss a lot of Sundays attending and serving in our church. Thankfully, I know we are missed when we aren’t there and I know we are being prayed over and for and that feels great.

Because of baseball, we are also making opportunities to be light bearers and bring Jesus to the ballfields where there are a lot of young people (and older folks) who need this good news.

Church is important, there is no doubt, but it’s not the only place you can access Jesus or the good news of the gospel.

Our team is doing a new thing. We are on mission. It’s not just baseball here, it’s all for God’s glory.

After inviting and pumping up the opposing teams for our pregame prayer huddle on the mound, we were stared at and yes, some of those boys (maybe coaches, too) thought we might just be a little strange. “Why are they being so nice? We are their competitors…” They didn’t know you could do this. They didn’t know you can love like this.

That’s the good news! We have Jesus and anyone else who is interested, who maybe also wants a little taste of whatever this is, can have it to! It’s available for ALL!!!!

One kid came up to Derrick after the second game’s prayer huddle, looked him straight in the eyes, shook his hand with a firm gentleman’s grip and thanked him. He said. “No, really. THANK YOU for this display of sportsmanship. I mean it!”

This boy represents the others who didn’t speak up. We all just want to be loved. Most of us don’t know what that looks like. He recognized it.

While huddling and dropping to a knee, I begin these prayer huddles by saying, “Guys. We are all brothers and sisters here. We are all here for one reason and that’s to glorify God.” Rings are great, for sure, but it’s all God! We may not always win the rings, but we can always leave the field as winners because we played for Team Jesus!

And we may not be in church but Jesus is with us and he goes where we go.

When we care for the other team, encourage them, lift them up like brothers, we are doing something different. Some think it’s a little strange but others are curious about this new thing!

Because of baseball, the Lord has given me content to write sports devotions and we’ll have a group of boys meeting to discuss Jesus on the ballfield!

Because of baseball, we can show these boys (and parents and coaches) a new way! You can be friendly and encourage one another AND competitive.

Because of baseball, we can love and serve others well outside the church.

Because of baseball, we have this opportunity to do a new thing.

And it’s Because of Jesus, we do it all.

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” - Isaiah 43:19

Creative Resources

Because of baseball, I’ve also been taken out of my creative comfort zone and pushed myself to create new content for our team. Here’s a few examples of what I’ve created:

• Powerful, professional tools and resources shared with our coaching staff, the families of the team, and other teams interested in incorporating these elements into their program

• All of the posts and reels for our social media presence in a fun and engaging way that highlight our team’s elite status, fun environment, and inviting culture

• Fun posters and baseball cards through editing programs

• Functional stationary for the team to use, and for individuals to use

• Additionally, I’ve created relevant, sports-related Christian devotionals for our team that we share with the boys who are interested in growing their faith (it’s optional)

• Engaging drills that help each boy develop their skills

• The Whole Athlete Program that incorporates mind, body, and spirit into the growth and development of our team

• Individual player development plans that help meet each player where they are and outline a plan for growing

Check out more fun photos of our team and some of the items I’ve created below.