Ben King remembers tasting nothing but salt. No surprise there. It’s normal when sweat pours out of an athlete’s body as he burns through energy like a wildfire consuming a forest.

Since the beginning of time, love stories have been told and retold. Typically, they go something like this: Boy meets girl. Boy and girl fall in love. Boy and girl get married. Boy and girl live happily ever after.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)

My story began in Tampa, Fla., where my mother, Wanda, raised my older brother, Ray, and I by herself. Like most boys, Ray and I both loved sports, especially football, basketball and baseball. He was four years older than me, and, being typical brothers, we were always competing with each other. While he won most of our driveway basketball games, he was no match for me on the Super Nintendo.

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.” – Matthew 6:33

Add Gessica Hufnagle’s name to the ever-expanding list of former players turned coaches. As a four-year letter-winner at Notre Dame, the Indiana native officially joined the coaching ranks in 2008 after a standout career at both catcher and outfielder for the Irish. Now in her third season as an assistant softball coach at the University of Southern Mississippi, Hufnagle is learning more each day about what it takes to be a godly coach and spiritual guide for her players.