One more chance to visit with A DBU Patriot !

Above- Chris at the plate/ Below- Chris with the Bogel family
Our paths crossed with a Dallas Baptist University Patriot for the 1ST time late last summer when left handed reliever Wayne Dowling came to Luray to pitch for the Wranglers and was in need of a place to stay. We spent the remainder of the season hosting Wayne and as it turns out it was just the beginning for the Carter family and DBU!

I made a trip out to Lubbock, Texas to watch Wayne pitch at the end of his senior season. The Patriots were playing a twin bill against the Red Raiders and I met a few remarkable people that day. The list included Lacey Dowling, Clay Kelly and his aunt and uncle, Chris Haney and Josh Wilson. I was also able to visit that day with Wayne and another former Wrangler Drew Pirtle.
We fast forward to the start of the 2008 VBL season and the DBU players are busy as they earned their first ever NCAA Tourney Birth! Clay Kelly (We miss him) was on his way to stay the summer with us but that would have to wait until their NCAA run was over. Clay and his Dad, Pat Kelly finally arrived June 7TH and were just a couple of days behind Haney and Wilson.
For very different reasons, all of the four DBU players that came to Luray for the summer have since left the Valley but not without leaving an impression on the Carter family. Clay had to return to Texas for the start of Summer Classes and when he left we thought we had seen the last of the ball players.
That changed this week when the Clark Griffith league's Vienna Senators came to town to play a twin bill against both Waynesboro and Luray. When we were working on the game day programs we noticed that Chris Haney was on the roster of the Senators. Chris was the catcher for Vienna in game #1 against the Generals and it was enjoyable to get another chance to watch this young man play the game he loves!
We caught up with Chris after the night cap and took a photo of him with his host family during the time he was with the Wranglers in 2008. Ron and Sharon Bogel and their son Tanner are seen above with Chris right after the conclusion of game #2.
Saturday July 5TH was the day that Clay had to pull out and head back to campus. While we miss him being at the house I did notice he should of made it back for a very special ceremony that honored the team for their 2008 success. If you head over to www.dbu.edu/athletics/ you will find a story about the "Patriots honored by the City of Frisco".
Chris- it was great to visit with you one more time and we wish you continued success down the road with the Senators and again next year @ DBU.