Faith at the Plate
How Shanon Hyche and Mission 34 are using baseball, softball and the gospel to shape young lives in Walker County
Words by Micah Harrison | Images by Ryan McGill
We try to be the hands and the feet of Jesus. We just use the ball and the bat and the glove to do it."
That’s how Shanon Hyche sums up his mission at Mission 34, a nonprofit housed in a 4,800-square-foot hitting facility in downtown Cordova, Alabama. Now a sports hub for park ball teams, travel ball teams, and individual lessons, Mission 34 had humble beginnings.
A few years ago, Hyche felt a calling to ministry. After wrestling with the idea, he spoke with his pastor and realized that his path would be closely tied to sports. His daughter, Emma, was a standout softball player at Cordova High School. Through her years on the field, Hyche had developed a deep understanding of the game by coaching and supporting her athletic career.
In 2016, Hyche began offering free baseball and softball lessons to children of all ages. A friend offered up a backyard garage in nearby Jasper as a practice space. Shanon called the venture Mission 34—named after Emma’s softball number—and from there, it took off.
As demand grew, Mission 34 relocated to facilities at Sumiton Christian School in Sumiton, Alabama. The space served them well for several years, but eventually, the organization outgrew it too. When a promising location in Cordova fell through, the City of Cordova stepped in and purchased a piece of downtown property, which was then donated to the nonprofit.
With land secured, construction began. Two grants from the Walker Area Community Foundation—along with countless donations of money, supplies, and volunteer labor—brought Hyche’s vision to life. In April 2024, he gave his first lesson in the new building.
The facility may be new, but the mission remains the same: to share the Gospel of Jesus while offering free baseball and softball lessons to youth in Walker County.
During each session, Hyche strives to be a positive role model and teach kids how to face adversity with strength and character.
One of the most impactful parts of his vision came to life last year at Mission 34’s first youth rally. Another followed this May. Between the two events, 62 attendees were saved and baptized.
"That's really what we're all about," Hyche says.
A year and a half after moving into the new space, Hyche is already looking to expand. He’s currently raising funds and applying for grants to add 2,400 square feet and three new batting cages. The addition will house a travel ball team, which pays rent and helps cover the facility’s overhead, making it possible for the main area to remain dedicated to free lessons.
Nearly a decade into Mission 34’s existence, Hyche has no doubts about who deserves the credit.
“If you give it to God, He’ll take care of you,” he says. “And if He’ll do it for me, He’ll do it for anybody. 78
