Team Spotlight | Middle School Baseball

Coach Kearns, who has coached middle school baseball for three years and served as an assistant elementary basketball coach for four years, is especially proud of how his players responded to adversity. With several athletes playing baseball for the first time, the season presented plenty of opportunities to learn, improve, and overcome challenges. Rather than letting setbacks define them, the team kept showing up, working hard, and encouraging one another.

One particularly memorable moment came during a game against Cascade Christian. After a collision at home plate left one of LCA's pitchers with a bloody mouth and a scraped chin, he got back up and stayed in the game. He went on to deliver his strongest pitching performance in three years at LCA. His mental toughness and determination became a rallying point for his teammates and earned recognition from the opposing coaching staff.

For Coach Kearns, however, one of the season's most meaningful moments happened off the field. During a bus ride home from Seattle Christian, he sat with several players and talked about the connections between baseball, life, and leadership. Their conversation explored what it means to lead others and the difference between leading as a shepherd versus a rancher. "The chance to use our sport to connect on a greater level was priceless and will definitely stick with me," he shared.

One challenge many people may not realize is that middle school baseball marks the first time many sixth- and seventh-grade players play on a full-size diamond. Adjusting to 90-foot bases and a 60-foot, 6-inch pitching distance is a significant transition, even for experienced young athletes.

As the season comes to a close, Coach Kearns celebrates a team that kept growing through every challenge. Their willingness to persevere, support one another, and embrace opportunities for personal growth reflects the heart of LCA athletics. We are proud of our Middle School Baseball team and grateful for coaches who invest in developing strong athletes, thoughtful leaders, and young men of character.