“Brian Coburn (‘24) is the epitome of what the baseball team hopes to embody,” said Ryan MacFarlane, Baseball Head Coach at Lancaster Bible College. “He brings a high level of skill with the character to match. There is no better example I can think of who represents Christ on and off the field.”

Coburn, a Business Administration major at LBC, has been playing baseball ever since he can remember. At nine years old, Coburn was a member of three different teams including a travel team. His time on the travel team was influential as he learned how to play baseball, the strategy behind it, and met Neil Weber, now the Baseball Associate Head Coach at LBC, who played a critical role in his growth as a player.

Despite playing other sports as a kid, baseball became Coburn’s favorite due to the challenge and strategy it requires. “It’s such a mental game and I just love it,” Coburn said.

This summer, Coburn had the honor of playing for Athletes in Action’s summer collegiate team, Xenia Scouts, in the Great Lakes League alongside many players from NCAA Division I and Division II schools.  “Athletes in Action uses sports to strengthen athletes’ walks with the Lord,” said Coburn.

Coburn explained that Athletes in Action is a ministry organization that selects baseball players and then seeks to develop them not only as athletes, but as Christ followers. The teams play five to six games a week with “team time” and lift each week. The heart behind these “team times” is to connect the players with each other and with the Lord. Each “team time” they explored a passage of scripture, spent time in prayer, and heard the testimonies of fellow players.

“A key takeaway from the team times was that we should play baseball for an audience of one,” said Coburn. “You are playing for the Lord. It’s about glorifying Him in how you play the game of baseball.”

Coburn recalled a moment from the summer when he was challenged as both a player and a believer. He was put into a game to pitch and gave up five runs in two innings, eventually getting pulled out of the game and giving the opposing team an opportunity to even the score.

“In that moment it was really hard because I blew it for the team,” Coburn said. “Tons of thoughts went through my head. The biggest one being, ‘I’m not good enough.’”

After the humbling game, Coburn had to face the same team again the next week. “There was a ton of doubt in my mind but at the same time, there was a ton of confidence. I wanted to go out there and do the best I could for the team.”

Coburn recalled that he had to remind himself that God had blessed him with the ability to play baseball, but ultimately, baseball is just a game. That second game, Coburn pitched for five innings and only gave up one run.

“One thing that my coach told me growing up was that when you make a mistake, just forget about it. Move on. If you dwell on that mistake, it is just going to bring you down further,” said Coburn. “Baseball is a game God has given us to be able to play, but ultimately, our identity is not found in the game of baseball, but in the Lord.”

Coburn finished 13th in Earned Run Average in the Great Lakes league at 3.06. His team, the Xenia Scouts, finished in 2nd place, reaching their best record in history. They also won their regular season division, leaving Coburn with a summer he would never forget.

Coburn is also team captain for the baseball team at LBC. His goal in this position is to build others up, be willing to step in where needed and come alongside his teammates.

“Something I try to live out is being an example,” said Coburn, “Whether that is on the field or off the field. Living in a way that glorifies the Lord and encourages others, building others up, holding people accountable that need to be held accountable, coming alongside those who are on the team and being willing to step in where I need to, help where I can, and be intentional about conversations that I have.”

Coburn strives to participate in creating a culture amongst the team that is honoring to the Lord. He hopes that his teammates can see how faith and baseball meet in that, “as Christ followers we are able to glorify the Lord in how we play, how we communicate with others and how we respond to difficulties.”

For Coburn, life, school and baseball are about one thing: performing for an audience of one.