FALMOUTH, Mass. – The annual Baseball Sunday at Waquoit Congregational Church was a grand slam hit on Sunday as the Falmouth Commodores joined the congregation for an exciting celebration of America's favorite pastime. The service, divided into nine innings, was a hit with fans of all ages who turned up in their favorite team jerseys and baseball caps.
Kicking off the event with a ceremonial first pitch was a special guest, Commodore Carolyn Bellmore, the first woman commodore in her district for the Coast Guard auxiliary. TCU catcher Karson Bowen caught the pitch, and the response of cheers and applause set quite the tone for the rest of the event.
Rev. Fields showed off her throwing skills too, tossing Cracker Jacks into the audience. Attendees then sang “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” and everyone was finally seated for service — or so they thought.
Fields went on to encourage everyone to find their own walk-up song, explaining how finding a walk-up song for life can help determine one’s path. Bowen got giggles from the audience as he revealed that "Levitating" by Dua Lipa is his go-to track, and Fields got the rest of the players to share their songs, too.
The seventh inning stretch had everyone on their feet for "Sweet Caroline," and players could be heard saying, “That’s surely a first,” once the sing-along concluded.
Joey Brenczewski, an infielder from Indiana University, expressed his gratitude for the unique service.
"It's amazing to see the community come together like this," he said. "The energy here is incredible, and it's great to be a part of it."
The event was a perfect blend of faith, community and baseball, providing an uplifting service that celebrated more than just the sport. The Commodores' presence added a special touch, with players signing autographs and posing for pictures after the service, making it a memorable day for everyone involved.
As people left the church, it was clear that Baseball Sunday was a home run, creating a sense of community and shared passion for the game. Here's to many more years of this beloved tradition, where faith and baseball continue to hit it out of the park.
