The hero of our story today is a small town kid with a passion for baseball.
My brother Jake has been playing baseball since he could walk, therefore I've been a spectator of the sport for over 15 years. Every Spring, Summer, and Fall on any given Friday night or Saturday morning, the Morrison clan can be found at a baseball field. The coldest I've ever been (Ennis tournament of 2010) and the hottest I've ever been (University of Dallas tournament 2009) has been in the bleachers of a baseball game. I know how to keep a stat book, what Jake's favorite Gatorade is, and what it means when my dad yells "downstairs!" (pitch it lower).
I've watched a lot of baseball.... and watched a lot of Jake growing up. He used to be a kind of chunky kid that would run with his elbows flailing and that would get easily discouraged. Now he's a disciplined athlete that works-out hard and takes care of his body, and a leader that isn't afraid to stand up for what he believes in. Baseball teams have been stereotyped to be the "bad kids", the kids that are rough around the edges....and it's been true with Forney, until this year. It's Jake's senior year and discpline hasn't been an issue for the team since the first practice. He's very respected amoung his friends and his leadership and his Christ-like influence has made a big difference.
He works very hard in baseball, in school work, as the president of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and as a friend. And being at college has meant that I've had to miss a lot of that. But a major factor in chosing to go to UNT was so I could try and make as many baseball games as possible.
I'll be a fan for life, whatever it is that the future has to offer him.
He's #24 on the field, but will always #1 in my heart.
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