Rogers grad Sexton chooses career in ministry over baseball

Last season during the middle of his junior year with The Masters College baseball team, Rogers High grad Michael Sexton found his calling.

Under the spring sunshine in Santa Clarita, California, Sexton came to his life’s greatest decision at this point: He was done with baseball.

There would be no more days out at the ballpark for the former 38th round draft pick by the Seattle Mariners. No more time out playing catch, or in the batting cage taking extra swings with his teammates. Sexton was done.

And he was at peace.

“About halfway through the season, I felt it was the right time to walk away,” Sexton said.

In truth, the former Rogers High shortstop had made this decision one year prior, during his sophomore season as he helped Lewis-Clark State win the NAIA College World Series in 2015, the school’s 17th title.

Deep inside Sexton, there was a passion that outshined his love for baseball, and LC State couldn’t fulfill those desires. Not like The Masters College could.

“I wanted to be a pastor. (I was) just trying to find a school that offered what I wanted to study (biblical studies) and was good at baseball,” Sexton said. “I’m a man of God, and being a man of faith, I wanted to do something focusing on that. I want to become a pastor, and I couldn’t do that with LC State. It was around Christmas my sophomore year (at LC State) that I decided wanted to transfer to the Masters.”

During his two seasons with LC State, Sexton had compiled an impressive .297 batting average (86 for 290), where he compiled 35 extra-base hits (10 home runs, 23 doubles, two triples). He also drove in 64 runs and scored 71 for the Warriors.

Even with the impressive numbers and a national title, there was something more Sexton could do in his life — something Lewiston, Idaho could not provide. So he moved his life and career to fulfill his calling. Sexton moved to Santa Clarita, California and to the TMC Mustang baseball team, where he swiftly changed his focus to biblical studies last fall.

Right away, Sexton felt at home in Santa Clarita; he felt his life had become more focused. He wasn’t just on a path to complete his childhood dream, both in the spiritual and physical sense of what he envisioned.

With a calm mind, Sexton had his best college season yet, helping the Mustangs reach the NAIA College World Series with his power bat, hitting .324 (70 for 216) with 17 home runs, 20 doubles and four triples while driving in 50 runs and scoring 48.

While in the midst of this big season with TMC, Sexton felt there was something more to his life than what he saw out on the field. It was his second calling.

“There were things that were more important, and that is ministry (to me),” he said. “I’m sad my career is over, but I wouldn’t take (my decision) back.”

On May 30, Sexton’s baseball career came to an end right where his college career began, at Harris Field in Lewiston, as the ninth-ranked Mustangs fell, 9-7, to No. 7 Sterling (Kan.), TMC’s second loss of the World Series.

“I’m happy I got to end my career (there), where my career started,” Sexton said. “I’m a little disappointed I didn’t get the chance to play LC State (during the World Series).”

It’s a peaceful sort of mind that allows someone to walk away from what millions of children dream about growing up. One that even Sexton once shared with those dreamers.

But baseball is only a part of who Michael Sexton is as a person. These days, Sexton is spending his summer starting off on the path he’s charging down.

While helping kids develop their skills at the Marc Wiese Baseball Academy at Heritage Park, he knows he made the right decision to step away.

“I still really enjoy the game — I love the game and that will never change. (But) being around young kids that love the game is a way for me to give back to all the coaches that worked with me,” Sexton said.

It’s also a way to give to the kids something he didn’t feel was there for him growing up.

“A lot of the guys that come back (from college) weren’t always the best role models for me,” he admitted. “I could look up to the coaches and many of the high school players, but a lot of the guys coming back from college didn’t stand out as much. That’s what I hope to do is to be a good role model for these kids.”

This story was originally published July 12, 2016 at 3:07 PM with the headline "Rogers grad Sexton chooses career in ministry over baseball."