GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Golden Eagles baseball program was named the first ever Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) Men's Champions of Character Team on Thursday. This honor now makes the team eligible for the Conference Commissioners Association (CCA) Champions of Character Award that is given annually to one men's and one women's team for their exemplary character on the field, on campus, and in the community. 

The WHAC selected the Cornerstone baseball program as the Champions of Character Team just under a year after Head Coach Chuck Lowitzki was honored as the NAIA Champions of Character Coach for his and the coaching staff's leadership. Some of the factors that were included in the baseball team's selection included: 
 

• The team shows respect by valuing others and showing appreciation for those who do their job well. A custom is to give a "CU Baseball Thank You." This activity teaches student-athletes to notice when others are displaying excellence in their respective jobs, then the team will gather around that person and give them a standing ovation. 
• Actively engaged with a brother/sister relationship where they serve and support the women's soccer program. Players attend every women's soccer home game with signs of support and they share gifts and plan team parties together while trying to serve in a way that best supports that specific program. 
• Team rule that all players must sit in the front few rows during chapel and the first two rows during class to engage with those who put in so much work to teach them and help them grow. 
• Each player is responsible for different equipment for game and practices.
• Players are often put in coaching situations during games and practices to train and develop skills to be more responsible.
• The team consistently reads and talks about books on how to manage difficult decisions in life. 
• Players serve the Grand Rapids community in a variety of ways.
• Some player went on a mission trip to Guatemala in January of 2019 to share their faith, do hands-on work, and work with kids in teaching baseball camps. 

Head Coach Chuck Lowitzki when asked about the honor stated, "It is wonderful to have our young men honored by the WHAC as the male recipients of the Champions of Character Team Award. While the majority of our spring season was cut short, our student-athletes worked diligently throughout the academic year serving others in the Grand Rapids community and exemplifying the five core values of the NAIA Champions of Character program."

 "I feel blessed to work alongside fantastic coaches and leaders like Joe Corsten, Chad Cook, and James Sackett. Our program goal is to build authentic, Godly men to serve others and I consider it a great privilege to work with players and coaches who buy into that mission every day."
 
Baseball Contact: Jesse Campbell 
CU Athletics: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Baseball: Twitter | Facebook