Faith, Fellowship, and a 16-16 Tie: The 3rd Annual and Bats for Vocations
- Sat, Jun 6, 2026 5:43 PM
TRAVERSE CITY — Sunshine, smiles, and a spirited community spirit filled Turtle
Creek Stadium on May 24, as the Diocese of Gaylord gathered for the 3rd annual Bats
for Vocations softball game.
The free-will donation event brought together hundreds of attendees and raised
approximately $5,000 to support diocesan vocations.
The afternoon opened with a vibrant Pentecost procession. Seminarian Jake Belanger
led the procession just weeks ahead of his June 6 Ordination to the Transitional
Diaconate.
The 4th Degree Knights of Columbus Color Guard provided a grand welcome. Notable
guests included:
Ray Gehlmann, Visiting Color Corps Commander (Diocese of Saginaw)
Ken Unterbrink, Past State Deputy
The highly anticipated game featured the Bishop, Priests, and Seminarians facing off
against talented Catholic school students from across the diocese. Both teams brought
immense energy, resulting in a thrilling 16-16 tie.
The real victory, however, was the community's incredible generosity in supporting the
future priests and deacons of the diocese.
