User:Rollea96/sandbox

Professional Career
Sam Marsonek was a 6'6" right handed pitcher out of Tampa, Florida. Sam was drafted as the 24th overall pick in the annual MLB First Player Draft in 1996, by the Texas Rangers. Marsonek was released from the Washington Nationals in 2008, ending his 12 year as a professional baseball career.

Coaching Career
After searching for 4 consecutive years of searching for a avenue to build a facility near his hometown in Tampa with the capabilities for housing, training, and also as a means to minister the gospel and discipling players of all levels and nationalities, Marsonek found no luck. The door was finally oppened to Sam and his wife Kristen in 1995 as they sold everything they had and moved to Jena, Alabama. Marsonek, as the Director of SCORE International Baseball, took over Baseball Country, (formerly owned by Kenny and Angela Burns), in May 2016. Prior to the new position, Marsonek and his SCORE team had been bringing in missionaries along with carpentry teams to help out the area, using Baseball Country as their hub for what was already 10 years took over Baseball Country Marsonek is partially responsible for sending over 85 high-school level players to the college level. He also played a big role in developing the skills and capabilities of 27 high-school players who went on to sign a professional level baseball contract.

Spiritual Journey
Sam realized that God had given him new calling for his life during his drive back to Florida from Columbus, after his release from the Washington Nationals,. Sam was once a reckless kid, longing for attention. This attention was not something that he got a lot of in his household as a child, which led Sam into a life of longing. Marsonek, after his spiritual transformation was hooked up with Slade Heathcott, a troubled outfield prospect in the Yankees organization. Prior to this short mentor-ship with Marsonek, Heathcott had very little sense of accountability and with the guidance of Marsonek, had a change of heart towards salvation.