12 U Terriers Baseball Team Sandusky Sunday Morning Talk
(ChatGPT was used to refine this talk- I wrote the information, fed it to Chat, and then I tweaked it again)
Opening Hook (1 min):
"Dawgs, you all know the feeling when you hit the ball just right—clean, solid, and it flies. That moment when you don’t even feel the vibration… just the smooth connection—that’s the sweet spot. What if I told you that life has a sweet spot too? And you can live in it—not just at the plate, but at home, at school, and with your teammates."
Analogy (2 min):
"Liam used a wooden bat for years—beautiful thing, but hard to hit with. You’ve got to catch it just right. We took it to the pros at Sabre Cat Bats to learn how to clean off the ball marks. The owner looked at the ball marks all over it and said, 'The pros? All their marks are on the sweet spot.'
Why? Because they’ve practiced. They’ve failed. They’ve studied. But when they connect? Power. Effortless. Game-changing.
Now—think about you. You already know how to grind, how to work, how to hustle. But today, I want to show you a different kind of power. A secret weapon, even stronger than muscles or mechanics."
Turn the Corner (2 min):
"Here’s the truth: Life throws curveballs. Hard days. Confusing situations. Pressure. People will misunderstand you. Someone mean to you and you fight back with a harsh tone- that is a hit off the handle. You throw your helmet out of frustration- that is a foul off the end of the bat. You get down and pout because you don’t get your way?- that is like a strikeout. But there’s a way to still live in the sweet spot—even when you don’t get the outcome you want.
Let me introduce you to my Power Three:
Faith. Hope. Love. "Now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." —1 Corinthians 13:13
When I’m living in these three—believing in something bigger than me (that’s faith), staying positive even when life is tough (that’s hope), and caring more about others than just myself (that’s love)—I’m at my best. That’s when I feel peace. That’s when I make an impact. That’s my sweet spot.
Not because everything’s easy, but because I’m centered.
Personal Example (2 min):
"I remember a game when I was 17. At the park in Dover. I think Kiko may have been at that game. The pitcher threw me a nasty curveball—but I timed it just right. Boom. Sweet spot. Homerun.
I’ve also had sweet spot moments off the field—helping a patient find hope, giving a talk that finally connected with my students, staying calm with my kids when I wanted to yell. Those are sweet spot wins too.
And guess what? Sometimes I hit the sweet spot, and things still don’t go my way. Just like a perfect line drive—caught by the shortstop. That doesn’t mean I failed. It means I’m swinging the right way."
Wrap-Up Challenge (2 min):
Boys, you don’t need to be perfect. But you do need to swing with purpose. Those pros took thousands of swings to learn how to hit the sweet spot. I think those bats the Sabre Cat owner talked about were probably the bats they used in practice. They don’t always hit off the sweetspot in games!
Let me leave you with this:
When you’re overwhelmed? Choose faith—believe you’re not alone. Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
When you’re discouraged? Choose hope—remember that setbacks are setups.
When you’re angry or selfish? Choose love—put others first.
In conclusion, Babe Ruth said, “It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up.” ~Babe Ruth
Some good hitters have a power statement: Pete Rose famously used the positive self-talk statement, “See the ball, hit the ball” every time he set himself in the batter’s box. Others might say, “Yes yes yes.” “Bring it.” “See it. Hit it.” Some may be more laid back: “I want ice cream!”
Maybe your power statement in life could be: faith, hope, love!
We talk a lot about controlling the controllables. Growing in these three- —faith, hope, and love—is a way you can learn to control the controllables. These three will take you further than talent ever could. This week, I want you to try swinging with the Power Three. See what happens.
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