An opportunity to play college baseball has led to deeper relationships than Brayden Berens (SO, Pratt, Kan.) or Dellen Claassen (SO, Newton, Kan.) could have ever imagined.
Berens’ calling into ministry and friendship with Claassen opened the door to a player-run Bible study as freshmen, which is now bringing 20 or more players together. Members of the roster meet in the Bluejay Suite in the Pendery Athletic Center, creating a space to seek an identity off the field.
“We all love baseball, but what happens when you go 0-for-4 or 0-20 over a week’s worth of games?” Berens said. “We’re able to look past those slumps and remember our identity is in Christ and not in our performance.”
Faith is the commonality of a roster of almost 70 players that spans over 3,000 miles.
“We have a teammate from the Dominican Republic who grew up playing baseball in the streets outside of a church,” Claassen said. “They told him he was allowed to play there if you came to church on Sundays. That’s where his faith began.”
Over the past year, they’ve led multiple teammates to the Lord. One particular moment sparked the “why” for Berens when he saw a hunger for the Gospel spread faster than he could have imagined.
“[This teammate] texted me and said, ‘Hey, I just got off the phone with my dad, and he wants to learn more about Christ,’” Berens said. “God is doing such big things already on campus, and we’re only a few months in.”
With aspirations of serving in the church, Berens is motivated by encouraging his teammates in their spiritual walk.
“We often ask about church background, and while a lot have experience with it, we have had some say it’s the first time they’ve held or opened a Bible,” Berens said. “When you talk about those things, and you’re able to be vulnerable with one another, it connects you on a deeper level.”
Berens recalled pitching last year in a varsity game, and when the game sped up and pressure mounted, shortstop Isaiah Cohens (g’24, tcs) would make a mound visit to speak with Berens.
“We had talked so much and gone deep with one another,” Berens said. “Encouragement means so much more when you have those shared experiences off the field and he’s there to tell you, ‘Hey man, you’ve got this.’”
Both spoke to the leadership of the 2025 seniors, echoing the work the 26 departing players made in furthering the goals and mission of the baseball program.
“Last year’s seniors were incredible for us,” Claassen said. “It’s very rare to have almost 30 seniors, and when they open up to you and care for you as a younger player, it’s pretty cool.”