FCA night at the Braves

Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) night was celebrated July 7 at Tink Larson Field during a 13-3 win by the Waseca Braves over the Rochester Roadrunners. About 150 fans were in attendance when the festivities began just prior to the game. Special guests Tom (Bomber) Holtz and Dravyn Spies were on hand to help. 

Holtz was an 8-hole hitter, a junior, on the 1990 State Champion Waseca High School baseball team. He threw out the ceremonial first pitch. 

Spies, a member of the 2021 State Champion Waseca High School Basketball team and a 2021 graduate, sang the national anthem. Spies is currently a college student at a Christian school, Hillsdale College in Michigan, and played an important role coming off the bench on that State Championship team. 

“I love to follow those teams,” John Conway said. “Bomber and Barry Dufault were the 8, 9 hitters on that state champion team. I think they had 5 hits each. Bomber doubled and tripled, and Dufault hit a lot of singles. Such a joy to watch them.”

Conway has worked with the FCA since 1980 and was hired as a South Central Minnesota Field Associate with the organization in 2007. 

“We call it the almost annual seventh year,” Conway explained. “FCA night at the Braves game started a decade ago, but then the fire happened, and then Covid, so that’s why we call it the ‘almost seventh annual.’”

Various contests, games and activities took place during the evening. During the fourth inning, a “baseball toss” game invited fans of all ages down onto the field to see who could throw and land a baseball closest to second base. Cash prizes were given out to three places. Taking first was Holten Howard, followed by Colton Miller and Curt Waugh. 

Baseball trivia challenges were held in the stands throughout the game. Two raffles were drawn; Ryan DeWees and Isabel Berg were the winners who took home one full and one half scholarship to the 33rd Annual Waseca FCA junior sports camp set for August 1-3. 

Programs handed out to fans included not only the Braves roster, but information about FCA and the upcoming Jr. Sports Camp. 

Online registration for camp ends at midnight July 27. Walk-up registration will still be available afterwards, but cost will be $10 more per camper. Online registration can be done at www.minnesotafca.org/waseca-jsc.

For those wondering about the Braves game that night, the team won easily 13-3 behind a strong pitching performance from Uriah Possin. Kyle Waugh had a great day from the batter's box reaching base five times and plating four runs on three hits, including a homerun. The Braves ended their regular season Sunday with a final record of 15-5. They open the playoff season at home Saturday and Sunday, with both games beginning at 2 p.m.