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From Fox News: College baseball nearly saw a miracle at Messiah University this year.
The Messiah Falcons made a run all the way to the Division III World Series championship game on June 5 in one of the most historic seasons in program history.
But for coach Phillip Shallenberger and his team, the goal wasn’t even to get there. Their goal was simply to be good Christians.
“It stopped becoming about, like, ‘OK, can we win a national championship,’ and it started becoming, like, ‘How can we point people closer to Christ?’” Messiah pitcher Daniel Knight told Fox News Digital.
About halfway through this season, after a 1-6 start, the team underwent a priority shift. No longer did they show up to the clubhouse every day with a main goal to win. Now, they were simply serving Christ.
On June 7, Shallenberger wrote, “No one could write this story… but GOD DID! 🙏 The best way to describe it all came from my dad…. “I thought I was attending a baseball tournament and walked out of the stadium feeling like I left a REVIVAL! 🤲 When you truly SURRENDER with “Open Hands” God does the work!”
No one could write this story… but GOD DID! 🙏
The best way to describe it all came from my dad….
“I thought I was attending a baseball tournament and walked out of the stadium feeling like I left a REVIVAL! 🤲
When you truly SURRENDER with “Open Hands” God does the work! pic.twitter.com/7Ddnkl58XE
— Phill Shallenberger (@CoachPhill_S) June 7, 2025
WATCH the inspiring video below:
In April of last year, the team posted the following video on social media, and wrote, “Focused on what matters most….. ✝️.”
Focused on what matters most….. ✝️ pic.twitter.com/xzXKyNXaJv
— Messiah University Baseball (@MessiahBaseball) April 16, 2024
What. A. Season. ⚾️@MessiahBaseball caps off a record-breaking 2025 season as National Runner-Up: 39 wins, first Regional title, first Super Regional, and first-ever Division III World Series appearance. Proud is an understatement. 👏 pic.twitter.com/bxtXGliPih
— Messiah University (@messiah_univ) June 5, 2025
God is Good! 🙏
Check out this story recapping the turnaround from our season! 👇👇👇https://t.co/8YG7SP9Gzk
— Messiah University Baseball (@MessiahBaseball) June 17, 2025
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