Champions night, kids’ baseball camp combine athletics and Catholic faith
By Jean Parietti
Boys, young men, dads and grandfathers are invited to an evening of inspiration from Catholic athletes, including two former Major League baseball players and a priest who played in the College World Series.
“Champions of the Catholic Faith” is slated from 6-9 p.m. Tuesday, July 22, at St. Monica Church on Mercer Island, 4301 88th Ave. S.E.
The same week, former major league baseball player Mike Sweeney brings his three-day Catholic Baseball Camp to Kent, inviting boys and girls ages 8-16 to hone their baseball skills and bring their faith to life. It’s not too late to sign up.
Learn more about both events:
Champions nightSupported by the Knights of Columbus, the “Champions” evening will include food and a raffle of three official baseball jerseys, autographed by Sweeney and Seattle Mariners Felix Hernandez and Robinson Cano. But the main event is the slate of faith-filled inspirational speakers:
Mike Sweeney, a five-time All-Star during his 16 years in the major leagues, including a short stint with the Seattle Mariners. Sweeney is now special assistant to baseball operations for the Kansas City Royals.
Brian Holman, who pitched in the major leagues for four years after being drafted ahead of Roger Clemens. As a Mariner, Holman was one out away from a perfect game against the Oakland A’s.
Father Burke Masters, vocation director for the Diocese of Joliet, Illinois, who played in the NCAA College World Series for Mississippi State University. Undrafted by the major leagues, he eventually set his sights on becoming a baseball general manager, until he felt the call to become a priest.
The event is meant to help boys and men learn “how to be a good Christian man, how to be good head of a family, a good father, and to incite enthusiasm for living the Catholic faith in everyday life,” Archbishop J. Peter Sartain said in a video message on the event website.
Tickets are $10 per person. Purchase them by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. document.getElementById('cloak1a985d270534558bb8615ed7ec23ffba').innerHTML = ''; var prefix = 'ma' + 'il' + 'to'; var path = 'hr' + 'ef' + '='; var addy1a985d270534558bb8615ed7ec23ffba = 'Tom.Ritter' + '@'; addy1a985d270534558bb8615ed7ec23ffba = addy1a985d270534558bb8615ed7ec23ffba + 'axiahomeloans' + '.' + 'com'; var addy_text1a985d270534558bb8615ed7ec23ffba = 'Tom.Ritter' + '@' + 'axiahomeloans' + '.' + 'com';document.getElementById('cloak1a985d270534558bb8615ed7ec23ffba').innerHTML += ''+addy_text1a985d270534558bb8615ed7ec23ffba+''; .
Baseball camp
From July 22-24, boys and girls will gather at the Russell Road Sports Complex in Kent for Sweeney’s Catholic Baseball Camp. This is the first time Sweeney is bringing his camp to the Seattle Archdiocese.
Each day will begin with Mass and a live rosary on the ball field. Then participants will hone their baseball skills with the help of professional-level coaches and hear from inspirational speakers (Seattle Mariners pitching ace Felix Hernandez is slated to visit the camp one of the three days). The sacrament of reconciliation will be offered daily and worship music will conclude each day’s events.
No baseball experience is required to participate. Cost is $300 per person. For more information, visit www.catholicbaseballcampseattle.com.
Listen to an interview with Sweeney.
June 24, 2014