Noah McCreary

Chop wood, carry water

[St. Ambrose University Baseball @AmbroseBaseball]

2026 CCAC CHAMPIONS

[Clint Hurdle @ClintHurdle13]

This is a passage from my book, Hurdle-isms:

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Hurdle-ism 2: Shower Well

It was 2004, and our team in Colorado was not playing well at game time. We were streaking the wrong way, and losses were piling up.

Our pregame preparations were solid. Scout meetings, early work, and team and individual attention to detail all were all racing along. But during the games our tires were flat.

After one of the losses, our team president, Keli McGregor, strolled down to my office. I didn't know if he was there to provide support, vent disappointment, or just ask questions to get some answers.

There was no topic that was off-limits between me and Keli, so I was looking forward to getting his take on our slump. I tried to get him involved in baseball game strategy. Keli said he wasn't qualified. I looked him in the eye and said, “Neither am I, but I'm the manager.” We laughed over that one quite frequently.

We challenged each other to be uncommon. Not common men, but uncommon. We wanted to truly make a difference. To create separation. To not be like everybody else. To not accept mediocrity. OK was not good enough.

So as we started to analyze what was happening and not happening on the field, Keli asked me to cut to the chase and give him one thought on what was next.

I looked him in the eye and said, “Shower well.”

He asked me to explain. I shared that the game had done everything it could do to us today. We weren't able to meet its demands, and that was on me. Either we win or we learn. You only lose when you don't learn. So my advice to our organization was to “shower well.”

In other words, wash the events of the day off. Watch them circle down the drain. Truly shampoo – rinse and repeat. Get the grime, dirt, disappointment, frustration, anxiety, and worry of today off of your body and mind and get them clean. Then go home and rest.

Keli nodded his head and said he liked that. He asked if he could use that metaphor with our employees. I said sure and then started thinking …

“Shower well” works in life as well. Think about it. Bad day at work. Grumpy boss. Missed deadlines. No communication. They don't understand me. Bounced check. Lack of guidelines. Hard conversations. Traffic jams in rush hour. Flat tire. Need I go on? You get it.

So many real challenges happen every day to each one of us on our individual journeys. So much is out of our control. It can be overwhelming, like drinking from a firehose. I love that analogy because I've lived it. That is why my reset button has been and will continue to be “shower well.” I get it all off me before I head home. I wash it all off me and get clean. I get ready for what's next.

Do you “shower well”? Give it a try. I think you'll be glad you did.

[Sahil Bloom @SahilBloom]

People who complain wind up with more things to complain about. Life is generous with annoyances if you’re constantly looking for them. But fortunately, the same is true of blessings. The lens you choose shapes the life you live.

[Cincinnati Reds @Reds]

No letting up.

[The Bible @The__Bible7]

Isaiah 43:1

[Blake Bunch @bunchyyyyyyyyyy]

Uncommitted Med. Rs SO Shortstop 26’

Getting healthy from a season ending hamate injury.

Will be going into my final juco year with @JohnWood_bases

Rounds of 4 with @LogsdonLance

@BUncommitted

[Jared Rodriguez @Jared_618]

Blessed to announce my commitment to continue my academic and athletic career at Quincy University!
Go Hawks 🦅🦅

[Jared Rodriguez @Jared_618]

Prospect League Outing:
Redshirt Soph | 3 YR Elig | Seeking 4-YR Opportunity
FB: 86-88 T89 | CB: 75-77 | SL: 82-84 | CH: 78-80
John Wood CC | RS @ Iowa Western
@BUncommitted @EliteRecruits_ @FlatgroundApp @SportsForceBB @PG_Uncommitted @PB_Uncommitted @The_Noah_Sharp

[Jacob Millar @jakemillarr]

Super excited to announce my commitment to Minot State University to continue my athletic and academic career. Huge thank you to all my teammates and coaches over at John Wood, as well as my family for pushing me and making this possible. #rollbeavs

[Drew @_drewquinlan]

Swings off of plus arms in region 24 tournament vs Heartland with @JohnWood_bases
tournament stats:
6/12
.500 avg
4 rbis
@DougieB_14 @mccno_8 @JUCOuncommitted

[John Wood Baseball @JohnWood_bases]

What we don’t have: Turf field, 10 Machines, Top notch facilities

What we do have: Grade A work ethic, Grade A culture, Belief, Confidence, Region Championship Appearances, Guys at all levels of baseball

Follow/ DM

[Payton Mansfield @PaytonMansfiel3]

Transfer Portal
RHH OF/1B
1 yr Eligibility left
6’3/ 220
NJCAA All-American
MWAC Freshman of the Year
Gold Glove (OF)
1st team All Conference
1st team All-Region
2 yrs. JWCC stats⬇️

- .387 Avg
- 35 HR
- 76 XBH
- 124 RBI

[NAIA Ball @NAIABall]

The 2025 NAIA Ball Pitcher Of The Year is LSU Shreveport’s Isaac Rohde!

Rohde capped off a historic career at the NAIA level as he led the nation with 16 wins and 146 strikeouts while posting a 2.09 ERA helping the Pilots win their first national championship in program history

Pitching line: 16-0 18 GS 120.1 IP 2.09 ERA 146 K 11 BB .75 WHIP 10.94 K/9 @LSUS_Baseball @LSUSathletics @Isaaclefty @RRACsports

[Michael Stupavsky @MikeStupavsky]

Excited for the next 2 years! ⚾️

#RollBees

[Jacob Millar @jakemillarr]

Still looking for a home for this fall

6’3, 170lbs RHP (Sports Management/Business Major) 3.3 GPA

Previous College: @JohnWood_bases

FB: 85-87 mph (20.6 hm)
CV: 73-75 mph
CH: 77-79 mph
@BUncommitted @jucoroute @EliteRecruits_ @BaseballCf @UncommittedStud @FlatgroundApp

[Douglas Barker @DougieB_14]

⭐️ Uncommitted Blazer Spotlight ⭐️

C Michael Stupavsky @MikeStupavsky
Slashed .333/.400/513 in conference play with 6 XBH. 10 CS/ 4 PB on the year.
Hard-nosed, Good Catch/Block/Throw. Plenty of juice in the stick.

[John Wood Baseball @JohnWood_bases]

Blazer awards! Congrats Kevin! @KevinMar_2

[John Wood Baseball @JohnWood_bases]

Blazer awards! Congrats Gavin! @gduran02

[John Wood Baseball @JohnWood_bases]

Blazer awards! Congrats Haidyn @HaidynMcgill

[John Wood Baseball @JohnWood_bases]

Blazer awards! Congrats Evan! @EvanSohn2