Softball team uses the field to share faith

While most guys head to the softball field to compete and hang out with their friends, Brian Scott goes for a different reason.

Scott and his team compete hard, but they are there for what happens after the game — fellowship.

Scott is part of Team Witness, a softball team that uses athletics to share its faith with fellow competitors.

“This is not a church team. We do mission work,” Scott said. “We don’t go to church tournaments, we go the beer leagues.”

Scott said his team is not always popular, but that has not stopped Team Witness from handing out Bibles and pamphlets after each game as well as sharing testimony with opposing players.

The team is in its fifth season and Scott estimates the team has handed out more than 10,000 pamphlets and Bibles as well as heard more than 300 confessions of faith on the softball field.

Scott said the idea for Team Witness came to him several years ago after seeing a similar team play.

“I played competitive ball for all my life,” Scott said. “I got saved then saw a team called Team Jesus play.”

Seven of the players are from Franklin County and most have been part of the team since the beginning.

The team travels all over the Southeastern United States to share its faith on the diamond.

This weekend Team Witness will be hosting “Praise in the Park” a combination softball tournament and concert to raise money to purchase Bibles for the team’s mission work. The event will take part at the John Blackwell Sports Complex.

The softball tournament will feature teams from area churches split into three divisions — mens, co-ed and mix and match, which consists of youth groups. Spots are still available and teams are guaranteed at least three games in pool play.

The tournament begins Friday night and will conclude Saturday. The concert, which will feature about five groups, is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. and is open to the public.

Teams interested in competing can contact (256) 627-8701 for more information.