Tonight, April 29, 2024, the Mooreville Troopers defeated the Booneville Blue Devils, with a final score of 10-0. #11, Wyatt McDaniels hit a grand slam that put the Troopers up 8-0 over Booneville. The number 11 is a legacy in Mooreville, Mississippi. My son Chris Lucius was a 2005 graduate of Mooreville High School and proudly wore #11 as a Trooper.
This is the infamous 2005 grand slam ball Chris smashed against Booneville to take NorthHalf and help win Mooreville’s State title. Officially measured, this ball still stands as the longest ever hit at Mooreville High School.
They say it was epic; I wouldn’t know. I passed slap out! With 2 outs and bases loaded, Chris stepped to the plate, grinning and pointing his bat right at me. He was gonna leave it ALL on the field in his last home game. The bat’s crack on this ball is all I recall before waking up in the concession stand.
Chris walked me out of the ballpark that night and said, “Momma, this was awesome, but I don’t want it to be the best thing I ever do in my life.”
I assured him he was just getting started but thought it a strange thing for an 18-year-old to say after such a great night. Looking back, maybe Chris was seeing into his future and maybe God was preparing him for wars to come.
Because none of the amazing things he accomplished ever came easy. They might have looked easy to outsiders because he always smiled and kept going. But Chris conquered so many hard things in life. Things that would have left other men down and out for the count. Things like cancer. As in all his battles, he faced the foe of leukemia with courage and strength. He lived all-in, with zest and laughter. No matter what, Chris faced it head-on! He left his ALL on every field of life. Always!
Witnessing Chris overcome each obstacle, I often recalled his teenage fear that hitting this baseball and winning that game might be his best accomplishment in life. And each time, I said to myself, “No, son, it was NOT the best thing you ever did. Not by far. The BEST thing you ever did was surrender your ALL to Christ.”
Now more than ever, I pray this old baseball inspires us to leave everything on life’s field. To give our ALL to the Lord, just like Chris did,.
Chris was a 7th grade science teacher and baseball coach at East Union Attendance Center. He loved the game of baseball, and I believe he was cheering #11 on tonight.
