“We recently got a new baseball field. Between the softball field and the baseball field, they spent a half million dollars,” Hinckley said.
“And I have to brag on our athletic director, not for any other reason than – this guy, he loves the Lord. He’s the athletic director over all the Oklahoma City public schools – normally you may see somebody that’s high up like that to be a Christian, but not be as outspoken as this man. And he is outspoken with his faith.”
Hinckley went on to say Sinor was more than just someone to speak, in the same manner that faith without works in dead There is action that accompanies his talk to show the kids throughout the school that people know they exist.
“They’re going from high school to high school giving football fields, baseball fields and softball fields through something called Fields and Futures. And they’ve partnered us with the Wes Welker Foundation, as well as this. And what they’ve done is come in and completely face-lifted those three places.
“What’s happened is the boys now find that people care about them and are trying to give them a place to hang out.”
Over the last three years at Capitol Hill, the number of wins on the scoreboard has been far exceeded by the losses. But in his time at the helm, Hinckley has given more to his team than what can be measured by runs.
The team knows he is there for them for the long haul.
“I think the one thing is holding to the commitment to practice with them. Because I remember the first few games of our first season, one of the boys looked at me and said, ‘Coach, are you going to quit on us?’
“You know, it was probably 25 to nothing. And this had happened three or four games in a row. And what he was insinuating was that, ‘Everybody else quits. Everybody else leaves.’ And I said no. I’m not going anywhere. We’re here.
“And over the course of the offseasons and seasons and now having this last offseason, we practiced more and hung out together. We do Wednesday night meals at our church for whoever wants to come. We feed them hamburgers, hot dogs, fajitas, the ladies of the church cook for them.
“We try to make it like a practice time off the field and just hang out as much as possible. And to let them know there’s a greater purpose than just coming to the field and practicing and going home.
“It’s really about knowing each one of them. And my coach and I have talked about it, it’s about trying to get to their houses and know who the parents are, too.”
The distance from Moore to Capitol Hill is less than 10 miles; the distance separating the baseball experiences of the two portions of Hinckley’s life is vast. But he is bridging that gap and leading young men through a time of growth for them and for him as well.
“I asked them yesterday why they play baseball and a lot of them said they just want to be together,” Hinckley said. “Some were very honest and said it was to keep their grades up, and I appreciate that. But others said, ‘it’s because we love playing baseball.’
“And the whole point is now we have a baseball field that other teams can come in and not wonder if they’re going they’re going to get hurt or if it’s safe. It’s just like everybody else’s field. So I think that’s one of the aspects that has changed is that it has given them a place they can call their own.
“Now all this ministry that, you get a chance to be together more and you get to talk about the Lord, it’s become a whole lot more fun for the boys.”