AUBURN - Whether it is the big leagues or the minors, the life of a ball player is a hectic one, constantly in motion from city to city, practice to practice and game to game.

This doesn't leave players much time to stop and make sure that the rest of their lives are in order.

Thirty years ago Baseball Chapel entered the picture, giving players a little time to reconnect with their faith in the midst of a busy season.

Since 1984, Art Fritz Sr. has been offering that time to Auburn's own.

“I've been here 22 years,” Fritz said. “Many years ago I was on my way to the seminary, but God has given me my own congregation right here.”

Fritz said with so many players passing through the Auburn organization, many from different places, they can't always find a church, so he has been offering them his ear and his words.

“We'll meet whenever the players need to,” Fritz said. “Sometimes before a game for 20 or 30 minutes and we'll talk and I'll listen and I try to offer guidance.”

Fritz said that in those years baseball chapel has been primarily for players, but over the last 13 years, they have been opening their doors to the community as well.

“I think it is a good thing to do,” Fritz said. “People can come in and they can know what we are doing and what our goals are.”

Doubledays general manager Carl Gutelius said that it has been a great experience sharing this night with the public.

“We get a lot of church groups,” Gutelius said. “We get a couple of hundred people out just for the chapel. It's a different way to spend Sunday. And then we get between 1,800 and 1,900 for the whole night. That is a really good turn out for a Sunday.”

Churches like The Most Holy Lutheran Church of Skaneateles jumped at the chance to put something together this year within their congregation.

“Having the service is wonderful,” Louise Zabel, coordinator of the fellowship committee for the church said.

“I think especially for young people to see players sharing their faith is really wonderful.”

Chapel night drew out many of the Lutheran church's congregation, many of whom said they don't really follow baseball much.

“I might come to four games a year,” Ward Vuillemot said. “If I do I come here. It was the church and the chance for us to go out as a group that drew me here.”

Throughout the service Fritz was joined by guest speakers such as David Fisher.

Fisher, who served in the Baseball Chapel for 29 years before retiring this spring, has long been associated with the Blue Jays organization.

“I remember the first game they played in Toronto,” Fisher said.

“There was a blizzard, but they still won. I was with the team ever since. I'd go to the ball park every day and they would say that I was the team's spiritual teacher. It was nice to come back here and speak. I really believe in the Baseball Chapel and its message.”

Carrying on with the chapel's message were The New Life Singers from the Freedom Village Home in Lake Mountain. The group is made up primarily of teens, who have found a new way of life after going through many hardships with drugs and violence.

The group sings about a message of family and togetherness and whether it is on the field or in the stands, is one that rang true for many in attendance.

For Melissa Frendak, this message is what the whole night is really about.

“There are a lot of new members in our church,” Frendak said, “and this is a chance for all of us to get to know each other and bring our families out, too.”