Final moment of prayer
MADISON – Despite ending the 2026 season on a rather sour note losing in the Elite 8 of the Class 7A high school baseball post-season playoffs, the Bob Jones Patriots showed their true personality and rich faith in a moment which was captured in a photo and will forever be remembered.
The Patriots rolled through a 2719 season including falling in its two final games 4-3 and 7-1 in a best-ofthree series versus Thompson High. After a brief message by head coach Jared Smith within the team gathering, players and coaches alike shared heartfelt goodbye hugs and handshakes in a fitting scene, especially for the 13 seniors who had just wore their cleats, hats and uniforms as a Patriot for the final time.
What happened next will remain an effort for each of the players who participated can cherish for a lifetime.
Led by seniors Joshua Wilhide and Jayden Williams, the seniors made their way to the outfield wall beneath the scoreboard for a moment of prayer, one last time as a team.
“The moment was something that was not planned, as we didn’t plan on losing,” said Wilhide, who was 7-2 with an ERA of 2.13 while batting .295 and had 39 RBIs on the season. “Jayden actually suggested the move to prayer as he has become closer to God through the season. The moment was a great representation of our program.”
Used mostly as a relief pitcher and second baseman, Williams suggested the impromptu meeting at the wall due to the fact Wilhide had led Bible Group for the team once a week throughout the school year. Williams spoke of his personal trek through life, “My journey with Jesus hasn’t been great as I had grown up with a rough childhood as my parents were not there for me. My mother passed away and my father was in prison as I grew up with my grandparents. Our team was good, but the only reason we made it as far as we did into the playoffs was because of Jesus.”
Smith, head coach of the baseball program for 11 years, said his 2026 team faced more adversity than he could remember while leading the Patriots as they made many comebacks through the year. He indicated the team usually runs out to centerfield for a little private time, but this last time was certainly different. He added, “We spent time after the game and as we walked off the field, I turned and saw our seniors go to the wall one more time. It was a special moment as it showed the closeness of the senior class. This will certainly lead them as they grow after graduating. I am super proud of this group.”
For Wilhide, he won team awards for “Weight Room Warrior” and “Most Outstanding Pitcher” for the 2026 squad. His leadership off the field was a big influence on every player on the team roster as he was a Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Leadership Team member and held the weekly Bible Study gatherings, and those meetings inspired several of the attendees, as each of those attending on a regular basis grew with faith. Wilhide led a team prayer at centerfield prior to each game and every time he was scheduled to pitch, he knelt behind pitcher’s mound and said his own personal prayer before stepping to the mound to face his first batter.
“All of us knew the moment after the game was to focus on God,” said Wilhide. “I saw through the season how God worked with us as we grew as friends and brothers in Christ as we walked towards God as a team. A couple of our players shed some tears at the moment. For me personally, I grew a lot as a person of faith and I’m thankful to God and will never forget that final moment as a Bob Jones baseball player.”
