HARRISONBURG, Va. 鈥� 91短视频 and Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community announced Monday, May 11, a strategic partnership that strengthens and expands their long-standing relationship, allowing VMRC to plan for future growth while providing 91短视频 with the resources to advance its educational mission.

As part of the agreement, VMRC will acquire Park Woods, a 13-acre oak-hickory forest it shares with 91短视频, with a commitment to continue stewarding and preserving the urban green space as an enduring asset to the community. The partnership also includes a five-year plan for VMRC鈥檚 potential expansion through its purchase of the land upon which the 91短视频 baseball field now sits, along with the construction of a new ballfield at another location on the university campus.

The partnership, which has been approved by each institution鈥檚 board of trustees, supports their long-term strategic goals by strengthening financial sustainability, expanding opportunities for intergenerational engagement, and reinforcing their shared presence as mission-driven organizations serving the public good.

Leaders of the neighboring Harrisonburg institutions describe the partnership as a 鈥渨in-win,鈥� supporting both VMRC鈥檚 capacity to serve current and future residents and 91短视频鈥檚 ability to invest in academic excellence, student access, and community engagement.

鈥淭his partnership honors our history while giving us the flexibility and capacity to plan for long-term vitality,鈥� VMRC President and CEO Jake Bell said. 鈥淚t allows us to continue providing high-quality care and community while strengthening our connection to 91短视频 and the region we both serve.鈥�

鈥淭his partnership reflects who we are and how we want to lead,鈥� 91短视频 Interim President Shannon W. Dycus said. 鈥淚t builds on decades of relationship, shared geography, and common values, while positioning both institutions to respond thoughtfully and responsibly to the future.鈥�

91短视频 and VMRC share a foundation of Anabaptist-Mennonite values and a commitment to community, service, and care for the whole person. The two institutions have long been neighbors and partners, and this agreement positions them to collaborate more intentionally on academic, cultural, and community initiatives that benefit students, residents, employees, and the greater Harrisonburg region.

Media Contact:
Ryan Cornell
Senior Writer & Communications Manager
ryan.cornell@emu.edu
(540) 432-4059

Leading a new school comes with its own set of challenges, says Ryan Henschel 鈥�15, co-principal of Rocktown High School in Harrisonburg.

For one thing, there isn鈥檛 much of a blueprint to follow. There鈥檚 no history to draw on or precedent for how things are done.

鈥淲e鈥檙e still developing the identity of the school,鈥� Henschel said. 鈥淎nd we鈥檙e creating all the processes from scratch to keep things running smoothly.鈥�

It鈥檚 a formidable task, but also one filled with excitement and possibility.

鈥淭here aren鈥檛 as many 鈥榖ad habits鈥� we need to undo before setting the tone for the school,鈥� he said. 鈥淚n that way, it鈥檚 a little easier.鈥�

Henschel, in his first year as co-principal, leads over 1,000 students and several 91短视频 alumni on staff at Rocktown, which opened in fall 2024. He previously served as its assistant principal.

Originally from New Market, Henschel said the opportunity to play collegiate baseball drew him to 91短视频. During his four seasons on the team, the starting pitcher contributed to the Royals鈥� growing success. In 2015, as a team captain, he helped lead the squad to its first ODAC Tournament appearance since 2002, when former MLB catcher Erik Kratz 鈥�02 was on the team.

Baseball helped him grow, teaching him to manage his time, strengthen his organizational skills, and develop as a leader. It may have been what brought him to campus, but the school鈥檚 close-knit community and small class sizes led him to stay.

鈥淚 got to know my professors,鈥� he said. 鈥淎s an athlete, I knew almost all the other athletes and coaches and would interact with them. That played a huge role in making me feel like I truly belong to this community.鈥�

91短视频 is a Division III school, which means it cannot offer athletic scholarships. For Henschel, receiving the President鈥檚 Scholarship, which is awarded to 91短视频 students who maintain a 3.0 GPA, made a real difference.

鈥淭hat scholarship helped reduce the financial burden both during and after my time at 91短视频,鈥� he said.

Henschel chose to major in math education because he 鈥渞eally enjoyed math.鈥� 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 hear that a lot,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t came easier to me than other subjects, and I could help other students learn math, which gave me great joy.鈥�

After graduating from 91短视频 in 2015, Henschel taught math at Harrisonburg High School until 2023, when he was named assistant principal. When Rocktown opened the following year, he joined the new school as assistant principal. Henschel, who has a master’s degree in education from James Madison University, became Rocktown鈥檚 co-principal last fall.

His wife, Rachel Richard Henschel 鈥�15, a teacher at Spotswood Elementary School, is also an alum of 91短视频鈥檚 acclaimed teacher education program. He credits the program, and its immediate, hands-on experiences, with preparing teachers to serve and lead in the classroom.

During his first semester at 91短视频, an introduction to teaching course placed him in a local school practicum, where he could quickly translate course theory into practice.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 when I fell in love with teaching,鈥� he said.

Since welcoming students two years ago, Rocktown has earned awards across a wide range of categories, from its innovative architecture and cardiac arrest preparedness to its music education and athletics programs.

鈥淎s a new school,鈥� said Henschel, 鈥渨e鈥檙e currently in the exciting phase of cultivating a culture of excellence and seeing our students reach their full potential.鈥�

Your support helps students pursue a quality college education without financial barriers. Join us for the 10th annual Lov91短视频 Giving Day and contribute to the scholarships that empower future 91短视频 students. On April 1, let鈥檚 show that our generosity knows no bounds鈥or the record!

It could be argued that Kratz is the most successful athlete to come out of 91短视频. A four-year member of the Diamond Royals, Kratz was an NCAA Second Team All-American in 2002 and a First Team All-South Region honoree in 2001 and 2002. Those two seasons also saw Kratz named the ODAC Player of the Year and All-ODAC First Team. He was named All-ODAC Second Team during the 2000 season.

He holds the ODAC and 91短视频 career record in doubles (77), hits (220), and putouts (1019), and the 91短视频 record in runs scored (147), home runs (33), RBIs (159), batting average (.415), slugging percentage (.762), total bases (404), and games played (155). Kratz had his jersey retired after his final game in 2002, and was inducted into the 91短视频 Hall of Honor in 2012. 听

He was drafted in the 2002 MLB Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays, and made his MLB debut in 2010 for the Pittsburgh Pirates. In his 11-year MLB career, he played for the Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies, Blue Jays, Kansas City Royals, Houston Astros, New York Yankees, Milwaukee Brewers, San Francisco Giants, and the Tampa Bay Rays. In 2019, he was selected for Team USA in the 2019 WBSC Premier12, in which he was named the best catcher of the tournament.

Kratz is now the head varsity baseball coach at Dock Mennonite Academy, where he graduated from in 1998. He is also a co-host of the YouTube podcast Foul Territory.听

Kratz, along with 91短视频’s three other ODAC Hall of Fame inductees, will be celebrated on Saturday, Feb. 7, at the men’s basketball game against Roanoke inside Yoder Arena. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m.听听

鈥淲e are thrilled to partner with the Turks again this year for collegiate summer baseball at its finest. It鈥檚 an opportunity for 91短视频 fans and their friends and families to enjoy an evening at the ballpark, cheer on the home team, and show their Royal pride,鈥� said Jen Kulju, director of marketing and communications at 91短视频.

鈥淲e鈥檙e excited to welcome our friends from 91短视频 back for a fun night of baseball,鈥� said Gerald Harman, team president of the Turks. 鈥淲e look forward to a great and rewarding time for the Turks and Royals.鈥�

All who wear their 91短视频 gear will get in for free. The first 50 fans to buy popcorn will receive it in a collectible 91短视频 bucket. 91短视频鈥檚 mascot, Herm, and the Turks mascot, Gill, will greet guests and take selfies throughout the game. 91短视频 swag will be up for grabs between innings.

Founded in 1917,听91短视频听is an educational institution of Mennonite Church USA, serving students of diverse religious and cultural backgrounds. 91短视频 confers undergraduate, graduate, and seminary degrees in the liberal arts, applied sciences, and professions.

Established in 1915, the  collegiate summer baseball team plays 40+ regular-season games from May through July in the 12-team Valley Baseball League; league playoffs follow the regular season. Many Turks have gone on to play in the MLB and coach collegiate and professional baseball.

As head men鈥檚 cross-country coach, Landes oversaw teams that won four National Christian Colleges Athletic Association (NCCAA) championships and two ODAC championships, including the inaugural ODAC championship in 1976. Another coaching highlight came when Landes stepped in as head men鈥檚 basketball coach for the 1972-1973 season: 鈥淚t was the first year Lou Campanelli was at James Madison. They had scholarship players, and we hadn鈥檛 recruited at all. We beat them 72-71.鈥�

Landes finished his 16-year 91短视频 coaching career in 1983 with a 223-141 record. He also served as assistant professor of physical education from 1968-1982 and as supervisor of auxiliary services from 1984 until his retirement in 1998. He has fond memories of his time working with students in the classroom and on the playing fields. 鈥淭he kids were just a joy to teach and to coach, and they didn鈥檛 hold anything back. They always gave 100 percent, and I really appreciated that and 91短视频鈥檚 spiritual emphasis that I thought was important for the whole person.

Give to 91短视频’s new track & field complex in honor of Landes here:

The special night featured a matchup between the 2023 champion Harrisonburg Turks and the Covington Lumberjacks. Those who wore 91短视频 gear were admitted for free.

Leading by a 5-1 score, the Lumberjacks gave up one run in the seventh inning and two runs in the eighth to bring the Turks within reach. The home team’s rally fell short, though, as the Lumberjacks prevailed 5-4.

The night featured giveaways of 91短视频 gear and a meet-and-greet with Turks players, Turks mascot Gill and 91短视频 mascot Herm. This is the second year 91短视频 and the Turks have partnered for the event.

A total of 341 people attended Friday’s game, including 131 91短视频 fans and their friends and families.

91短视频 President Dr. Susan Schultz Huxman threw out the ceremonial first pitch. The pitch was right on target and bounced off home plate into the catcher’s glove!

The Turks provide college players an opportunity to enhance their baseball and life skills, said Gerald Harman, team president. “Teaming up with 91短视频 allows us to further our success through extended outreach while promoting education within the region,” he added.

At a table near the entrance, 91短视频 marketing and communications staff Kate Szambecki and Aric Berg handed out 91短视频-branded baseballs, Royals apparel and stickers, and information brochures to guests.

Thanks to everyone who showed up to the event. Hope to see you next season!

鈥淭he Turks provide college players an opportunity to enhance their baseball and life skills, and community collaborations help us to accomplish these goals. Teaming up with 91短视频 allows us to further our success through extended outreach while promoting education within the region,鈥� added Gerald Harman, team president of the Turks.

All who wear their 91短视频 gear will get in for free; the first 50 fans to arrive will get a free 91短视频 baseball. All are invited to take part in a pre-game meet and greet where Turks players will mingle with fans and sign autographs from 6:30-7:10 p.m. 91短视频鈥檚 mascot, Herm, and the Turks mascot, Gill, will greet guests and take selfies throughout the game. 91短视频 swag will be up for grabs between innings.

Founded in 1917, 91短视频 is an educational institution of Mennonite Church USA, serving students of diverse religious and cultural backgrounds. 91短视频 confers undergraduate, graduate, and seminary degrees in the liberal arts, applied sciences, and professions.

Established in 1915, the  collegiate summer baseball team plays 40+ regular-season games from May through July in the 12-team Valley Baseball League; league playoffs follow the regular season. Many Turks have gone on to play in the MLB and coach collegiate and professional baseball.

The main criteria is that teams must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 on a 4.0 scale during the 2021-22 academic year.

Twenty-one were also recognized this year on the 2021-22 ODAC All-Academic Team. The honorees include: Adrian Abad, Tyler Bagent, Cole Bashinski, Noah Dahloff, Jason Dwyer, Robert Guenther, Alex Gulisano, Matthew Harding, Jordan Jones, Logan Jones, Skylar Lacks, Jaylon Lee, Garrett Nyce, Andrew Petitt, Gage Riddick, Jon Sawyers, Forrest Shuey, Natty Solomon, Lucas Sorensen, Ethan Spraker, and Colin Troilo.

The baseball team is coached by Adam Posey.

91短视频 baseball player Jaylon Lee announced yesterday that he will play for D-1 James Madison University next year. Lee, named May 13 as the 2022 , has one year of eligibility remaining. He was a this season. Lee has signed to spend the summer with the Harrisonburg Turks in the Valley League. In 2021, while playing for the Woodstock River Bandits and representing the North team in the All-Star Game, he earned team MVP honors.

Lee graduated May 8 from 91短视频 with a BA in recreation and sports management. He was honored by faculty in the Business and Leadership Program as outstanding senior within his major.

The following article was published in the May 17 Daily News-Record.

***

Jaylon Lee didn鈥檛 grow up on the dirt of little league baseball fields. Instead he spent time inside Hampton Roads area bowling alleys with his family.

The Newport News native picked up bowling at the age of three and ran with it. It was a family hobby and he continued to bowl through high school, playing on a local team. Lee wasn鈥檛 bad at it either, earning scholarship money to continue throwing spares and strikes on a college team.

Lee didn鈥檛 take it, though, instead settling for a different kind of strike 鈥� one that鈥檚 thrown to him in the batter鈥檚 box.

鈥淚 figured I wanted to do something a little bit more fun,鈥� Lee said of choosing baseball over bowling.

Lee started playing baseball in high school, so he was relatively new to the sport when it came time for colleges to recruit him.

He didn鈥檛 garner an offer from any college programs, but Eastern Mennonite gave him a chance on the diamond. Lee has been a career .332 hitter in five seasons at the D-III university.

With one year of eligibility remaining, Lee decided to enter the transfer portal and James Madison came calling.

It didn鈥檛 take long for Lee to commit to the purple and gold. He was on a phone call with Dukes hitting coach Alex Guera, who offered him a spot on the team, and he took it on the spot.

鈥淲hen I went into the portal, I just knew from the jump if they offered, that would obviously be my new home,鈥� Lee said. 鈥淚t was a go as soon as it happened.鈥�

Before Lee became a standout outfielder with 91短视频, he had to learn the basics of hitting since he didn鈥檛 have a lot of baseball experience. Pitchers knew Lee had trouble with offspeed pitches, so they fired curveballs and sliders his way and he wasn鈥檛 too comfortable in the box hitting those.

91短视频 head coach Adam Posey helped put together a plan for Lee to identify the spin on the ball, trying to fill in the development gaps that he had since he grew up bowling and playing football.

Posey first sat down with Lee and showed him video of different pitches before using a pitching machine to replicate the spin. The idea was to get as many reps as possible for Lee to get comfortable in the box.

This past winter, the Royals batters used virtual reality to help train pitch identification. For Lee, that meant seeing as many breaking balls as he could and whether or not it would be a pitch to hit or take.

鈥淗e鈥檚 special,鈥� Posey said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 built for the moment and you try to get out of his way after you give him a couple coaching points.鈥�

The work paid off for Lee, who hit a career-best .382 this season with 91短视频, belting 10 home runs and driving in a career-high 43 runs. Lee said after working on hitting offspeed, those are pitches he looks for in the batter鈥檚 box rather than a fastball.

Lee spent time in the Valley Baseball League last summer facing pitchers from all over the country in the wood-bat summer league, an opportunity that almost didn鈥檛 come to fruition. Posey called every team in the league, working to get Lee on a squad as a team鈥檚 possible fourth outfielder or a bottom-of-the-lineup hitter. Most teams said no or were already full until Posey called the Woodstock River Bandits, who gave Lee a chance.

Well, that chance was all Lee needed.

Lee surpassed Posey鈥檚 expectations pretty quickly with the River Bandits, hitting .270 in the regular season with 10 multi-hit games en route to being selected to the league鈥檚 all-star game.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 think the moment overwhelms him,鈥� Posey said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think he鈥檚 going to back down from much.鈥�

For Lee, he wasn鈥檛 sure where he would fit in with the league鈥檚 pitching, but he was looking for his pitches to hit. Once he started finding success, he realized it wasn鈥檛 a fluke that he was hitting well.

鈥淥nce I finally started settling in, it did give me that boost of 鈥極K, I do belong on this level of play,鈥欌�� Lee said. 鈥淚t definitely did give me a confidence boost.鈥�

Lee said the experience in the Valley League will help in his transition to JMU next season, seeing pitchers who are polished around the strike zone with faster velocity behind their pitches.

He won鈥檛 have to go far 鈥� about two miles 鈥� to spend his final collegiate season, but it鈥檚 something that will resemble a full-circle moment for Lee.

As a high school senior, Lee attended a JMU baseball camp, where he first met the Dukes coaching staff. It was also the only college baseball camp that Lee ever attended.

鈥淚t鈥檚 kind of like I was destined to be at JMU,鈥� Lee said.

Before Lee strides into the box with a purple batting helmet on, he鈥檒l patrol the outfield at Veterans Memorial Park a little earlier than expected, but as a member of the Valley League鈥檚 Harrisonburg Turks.

Lee will be back in the Valley League for the second consecutive summer, but this time around it wasn鈥檛 Posey making the calls to get his outfielder on a team. It was the team calling Posey.

Harrisonburg head coach Bob Wease reached out in January to see if Lee would play for his club. He committed to play with the Turks soon after, but a few months later Lee made it official that he鈥檇 be at Veterans Memorial Park next spring with the Dukes, too.

鈥淭his isn鈥檛 a coincidence. This is what鈥檚 meant to be at this time,鈥� Lee said. 鈥淚 know it took a long time, but this is where I鈥檓 supposed to be now.鈥�

The Diamond Royals hosted Hampden-Sydney College on Saturday for an ODAC doubleheader, with a celebration for this year’s senior class prior to first pitch. .

鈥淭hese young men have exemplified the core values of our program in the time they have spent on campus,鈥� said Head Coach Adam Posey. 鈥淥ver the course of the last five years, they have been part of some of the most monumental wins in program history, while continuing to move our program forward in the classroom and the community. While there will be a very big hole to fill as they move on, we are lucky to have had them in the Black and Royal, and I have no doubt that they will be successful in their next endeavors.鈥�

Fifteen seniors and their families were honored.

• , pitcher, Ocean Lakes HS/Virginia Beach, Va.鈥� Major: Marketing
• , infielder, Red Lion Christian/Bear, Delaware. Business administration
• , pitcher, Essex/Essex, Va. Marketing
• , infielder/pitcher, George C. Marshall/Falls Church, Va. Business administration
• , pitcher, Dinwiddie/Dinwiddie, Va. Liberal arts
• , outfielder, Courtland/Fredericksburg, Va. Biology
• , 1B/pitcher, CD Hylton/Woodbridge, Va. Recreation and sports management
• , outfielder, Randolph Henry/Saxe, Va. Recreation and sports management
• outfield, Denbigh/Newport News, Va. Recreation and sports management
• , infielder, Gloucester/Gloucester, Va. Graduate: MA in organizational leadership/ UG: Recreation and sports management
• , infielder, pitcher, Gates County/Gates County, N.C. Health and physical education
• , pitcher, Atlantic Shores Christian/Chesapeake, Va. Accounting 
• , 1B, Eastern Mennonite/Hesston/Harrisonburg, Va. Liberal arts
• , pitcher, Millbrook/Winchester, Va. Economics
• , catcher, Eastern View/Culpeper, Va. Recreation and sports management
  

Teammates await seniors and their families during Saturday鈥檚 ceremony. Each senior selects a teammate to present them with their commemorative photo.

The ceremony is a time to recognize the commitment and dedication of the program鈥檚 senior, but also go share thanks and gratitude to the family members who supported student-athletes throughout their journey to 91短视频 and while with the Royals. From left: Assistant coach Bailey Hall and senior Brett Lindsay, head coach Adam Posey and Kathryn Lindsay, Brett鈥檚 mother.