Finding Grace on a Diamond....

The other day I read an email asking about how our sports teams were doing.  I sat there a few minutes wondering why I haven't been forthright with giving the scores of our Baseball team. I felt ashamed I may be withholding these scores for fear of embarrassment of my own inability to lead these fine young students down a path of success. How would our community accept scores of 10-0, 9-0, 14-2, 5-2 all with Cristo Rey on the "losing" end of these numbers? Would we turn our heads in despair and say, "I knew we shouldn't have run these programs"? Would we hang our heads in defeat and accept our inability to rise up from insurmountable odds?

Then I thought maybe it wasn't really embarrassment but the perception which is created when all we see are the numbers at the end of the game. With my all too brief stint here I have come to realize the true meaning of  "coaching". While on the surface I am coaching these young men to play a very difficult game, (a game many have never even experienced) learning the nuances of each play, each at bat and each pitch. Underlying all these teachings is a message of growth. Growth in the ability to place oneself in an unfamiliar situation, face  the ugly truth you may lose every time you step onto the field, and you may never hit the ball no matter how many times you swing.  Yet each day you take that first step onto the field. Each swing you get closer to making contact. Each day is an opportunity to look at yourself and take pride in the challenges you set before you.

Is it difficult losing? You wouldn't be able to tell from our students after we walk off a field. Our students have found a grace in understanding where they come from and where they are going. Each game we walk onto the field with worn out soccer cleats, old and nearly busted bats, gloves which are barely held together and stare at amazement at our surroundings. Schools furnished with million dollar stadiums, dugouts which are furnished with air conditioning, practice facilities which are bigger than our entire field and yet we smile. We smile because we have found solace in our ability. We celebrate each and every attempt. While the other teams are laughing because we are jumping up and down screaming at one of our players for making a simple routine catch, making contact with the ball only to be thrown out by the pitcher at first base. We still celebrate. We celebrated when Marco Padilla caught the ball at first base after a routine ground ball to Khalil Williams at shortstop. Marco raised his hand in triumph and jumped around. We were down by 9 runs. We celebrated when Gustavo Moran accidently caught the ball in right field on the run. He raised his hand up high to show his gift. Our team was joyous even as we forgot about the other runners on base...I could only smile.

Last night I took 3 ball players to a formal dinner at the Hilton. Our guest speaker was Pat Casey, the head baseball coach at Oregon State University, one of the finest baseball schools in America. We were surrounded by about 300 business men and women, many who already sponsor our community.  Our boys  marveled at having 3 different forks to choose from, they watched as Walt Grey from Channel 3 began the ceremonies by thanking Cristo Rey High School for attending this gala event. Cristo Rey, a small school without a win in baseball, without a hit in their last game, yet we were invited.

Frank Plavan from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul knew of our school and what this event could mean. His generosity and benevolence toward our community is an inspiration for us all. His hope was to elevate our students by giving them an opportunity to hear Coach Casey's story. Coach's story begins with poverty and discovering the humility of his place only to rise and serve the spirit of God by teaching 25 young men to work together to achieve one goal, not the College World Series, not even to win the game of baseball....to win in life, to take pride in every step you take, to raise your head up and give thanks to the Lord while your knee is bent in humility. I believe our boys have discovered this. I believe we are on the right path. We have found grace on the diamond and for this we can all be proud, no matter the score....

Jeff Arellano