Calvary University builds its “Field of Dreams”

By Andrew Banks

Mick Simpson is living his dream. The head coach of Calvary University’s new baseball team is what you would call a baseball lifer. He’s coached for over 20 years and has played as well, but baseball is just one of Simpson’s passions. His other passion is ministry, making Calvary University a match made in heaven. You can hear the pride in his voice when he calls Calvary “Kansas City’s distinctive Christian University.”

When his two passions, faith and baseball, were fused, special things were bound to unfold. Calvary University didn’t even have a baseball program until Simpson arrived in December of 2024. It came to fruition through a vision and a deep love for ministering the word of God and for the game of baseball. 

“I knew one of the basketball coaches at Calvary, and I owned a baseball academy at the time. I was always looking for baseball fields to play on. When I was driving through Eagles Landing Golf Course [in Belton] I saw all the lights and what could be a ball field. I figured out it was Calvary and had that connection, so I made a call. From there, instead of renting or purchasing the field from them, it turned into, ‘Hey, what if we started a baseball program? ’”

 Calvary University is located within the former Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base along Botts Road off 150 Hwy. Though the baseball field isn’t a finished product just yet, there’s already a special old-school feel about the park. 

Sometimes, big things start small, and that’s certainly true of Calvary baseball. The vision is clear. If you’ve ever seen the movie Field of Dreams, this field has the same vibe. Set against a rural backdrop, it embodies a Midwest baseball field. 

Calvary’s budget means building the field is more of a community project than an investment by the school itself. Families and players have helped create this baseball cathedral. There’s something truly unique about seeing a baseball field in its infancy. It’s bringing publicity to the school and, most importantly, something the hometown community can be proud of.

Between the lines, Coach Simpson describes himself as a baseball purist who relishes team baseball. He believes no one man is bigger than the team. He emphasizes guys sacrificing for each other and moving runners. Some may call it “small ball,” but Simpson wants it embedded in his players’ DNA. “Play good catch” has become a mantra for this group, something the Warriors hear constantly from Simpson. When asked to call out specific players and team leaders, Simpson wouldn’t take the bait. 

“The base of our team is back; we had really good retention numbers from a year ago, said Simpson. I really like the team idea, but our returners from last year, I have a lot of respect for them because we struggled. We were playing with nine freshmen almost every game, playing against juniors and seniors, but our culture was very good. We’re very excited about where things are going to go.”

The Warriors will get their season underway in early January, and it will run through May if they make the postseason. College baseball is different from the Major Leagues; it’s often played in cold temperatures. 

“There’s a lot of 45 to 50 degree games to struggle through. A lot of college baseball is played in cold weather man.”

Calvary University will look to make some noise in the NCCAA, the National Christian College Athletic Association. This is the first year since 2012-13 that NCCAA Division II baseball will have a national championship. After two successful invitationals hosted by Arlington Baptist University, Division II baseball has met the requirements to return to championship status for the first time since 2012-13. The sport will become the NCCAA’s 24th sanctioned National Championship event, with official championship dates and host site still to be announced. 

On top of that, the Warriors have an exciting crop of new transfers who will look to bring new life to Calvary University. While that brings excitement and legitimacy to Calvary’s baseball program on the field, the program is ultimately measured by how successful they are at molding young men and using baseball as a vehicle to win souls for Christ. That’s what Mick Simpson feels most strongly about. 

“Our goal as a coaching staff is really development off the field,” said Simpson. “We want these young men to be great members of the community, employees, husbands and dads. If you can find a way to hit your ceiling in something you love like baseball for these guys, then that will translate into their life and careers.”