In 1970s, baseball players asked President Hostetter to save program

In 1976, Messiah College’s baseball needed a coach. With no one on the faculty stepping up to the plate, so to speak, Larry Sollenberger ’76—a senior student—volunteered to coach for one year until graduation. After Sollenberger received his degree, however, the problem remained: no coach.

According to “Messiah College Baseball Encyclopedia” by Kenneth R. Dunn, “the college was actually considering the possibility of dropping baseball from its sports program.”

That’s when baseball players Charles “Chip” Herrmann ’77 and Randy Rhoad ’78 paid a visit to President D. Ray Hostetter.

“All I remember about the conversation is being extremely nervous,” said Herrmann of talking to the college president. “We talked about the strong bond of the 25 guys that had worked so hard together and had all become very close to one another. We loved the game so much and most—if not all—of us came to Messiah College because we wanted a Christian College that we could also play baseball for.”

While his friend did most of the talking, Rhoad added a personal anecdote. “I do recall discussing with [D. Ray Hostetter] that his father C.N. Hostetter, prior long-term president of Messiah College, was the previous pastor at the church where my family and I attended, Palmyra Brethren in Christ church, and that he had performed my believer’s baptism after I accepted Christ. I would like to believe that the personal connection may have helped save the baseball team from extinction.”

Whether or not the pleas of two young baseball players tipped the scales in a college president’s decision, no one will ever know. But, the baseball program named Ron Hopkins as the new coach and continued for the 1978 season—and for every year since.

—Anna Seip