The GCS Baseball Program provides a means to teach how a Christian should compete on the field as well as function in other aspects of life. GCS athletes must participate in such a way that honors their team, our school and the Lord.
Grace Christian is committed to developing a perspective on winning and losing that is consistent with the teachings of the scripture. We expect our athletes to dedicate themselves to this goal. Our challenge is to be in contrast to a sports world that emphasizes winning at any cost. Winning should be one of our goals, but we recognize that sports presents a beneficial learning experience, regardless of the outcome.
The mission of Grace Christian Athletics is to provide an excellent sports program that will help our students develop their God-given abilities. We want our student-athletes to honor and glorify God in all that they do (I Corinthians 10:31). Athletics is something that God allows us to do, not something that defines us. We need to make God first place in our lives (Matthew 6:33).
GCS is a 3A Independent school in the North Carolina Independent School Athletic Association (NCISAA).
The Middle School Baseball team is available to students grades 6 through 8. This foundational stage of development is the most important level of learning for our Baseball program, and includes:
Middle School Baseball gives us an opportunity to not only refine each player’s individual skill sets, but more importantly to build their character as team members, leaders, Crusaders and followers of Christ.
Middle School Baseball teams practice/or play at least 4x a week. Wednesday is normally the off day for Middle School Baseball practice.
The JV Baseball team is available to students grades 7 through 11 for athletes who have mastered the fundamentals taught in the middle school program. Fundamental skills are refined with an increased intensity for excellence, competition, and complexity of Baseball game strategies.
GCS Junior Varsity Baseball athletes must be prepared to compete for playing time. Our goal is to prepare our athletes for the demands of the Varsity Baseball program, training them to be ready to contribute immediately. Decisions related to playing time are made solely at the coach’s discretion.
Junior Varsity Baseball teams practice/or play at least 4x a week.
The privilege to wear the GCS Varsity Baseball uniform is reserved for our top athletes, grades 7 through 12, who have mastered fundamental skills with increased intensity for excellence, competition, and complexity of Baseball game strategies. Varsity Baseball players demonstrate a consistent display of the core Christlike character traits of our athletic program: Diligence, Endurance, Boldness, Obedience, Faith, Humility, and Dependability.
Varsity Baseball players must be prepared to compete for playing time and work to keep it. Seniority of a player is not a factor. Our Varsity Baseball players are judged on athletic ability, work ethic, attitude, and knowledge of the coach’s strategies.
Competing to win is strongly emphasized, without sacrificing the display and the development of Christ-like character. GCS Varsity Baseball athletes are expected to act accordingly to their roles on the team, and contribute unselfishly in accordance with their abilities. Playing time will be determined solely by the coach/coaches. Coaches will not discuss playing time or strategy.
Varsity Baseball teams practice/or play at least 5x a week with possible Saturday practices and games.
The GCS Baseball Program runs during our Spring competition season, with tryouts and practices beginning in February. If you’d like more information about the GCS Baseball Program, or to register for tryouts, please contact our Athletic Director.
GCS hosts a Summer Baseball Camp each summer for 1st through 6th grade, and offers an after school Baseball Enrichment Camp.
The primary goal of our baseball camps is to teach players how to improve their game. Skills such as fielding, hitting, base running, stance, and team playing are taught, in addition to building player’s confidence and teaching them good sportsmanship.
The Crusader Baseball Field is an exceptional sporting venue featuring brick dugouts, new backstops and spectator bleachers. Our state-of-the-art scoreboard was installed thanks to donations from our Corporate Sponsors Chatlee Boating, Myers Animal Hospital, Oh Snap, and Sanford Contractors.
Players from each team are selected for the following annual awards:
We are extremely proud our our GCS Alumni who have gone on to play college baseball:
Brandon Crabtree, ℅ 2023: NC State University
Jarrett Crabtree, ℅ 2023: Liberty University
Landon Jones, ℅ 2023: Belmont Abbey College
TJ McGraw, ℅ 2023: Wesleyan University
