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MIDDLEBURG -- A Snyder County man who happened to have the right name was given an opportunity to write the story of a baseball legend.
Hal Lerch, who was born in Lewistown, first met Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Randy Lerch through a wave of the hand at baseball game. Hal had sent Randy a letter expressing how they had the same last name and that he was a huge fan. Hal asked if he could meet him at the next home game. While seated in the stands, Randy came close to enough to wave to Hal and his father, but they could not get any closer.
Randy went on to play for other major league teams such as Milwaukee Brewers, Montreal Expos, and San Francisco Giants.
Thirty years later Hal sent him a book of genealogy of the Lerch family written in the 1940s. The two began corresponding via email and tried to find connections. A friendship began and Randy shared about his past demons -- alcohol addiction which caused cirrhosis of the liver.
The pair joined forces and wrote a book that is now available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and where books are sold: "God in the Bull Pen: The Randy Lerch Story."
Hal, a retired professional engineer, and founder of Word to the World Ministries, said he chose to help Randy tell his story "because reading about professional athletes who were Christians meant a lot to me as a boy. His story is more about God helping him with the challenges of life after becoming a Christian more so than his accepting of Christ as Savior," Hal said, adding, "Of course, they go hand-in-hand. My usual subject is "the Bible is truth, accurate, and infallible (including biblical Creation and history) and teaches why we need Christ."
This recent book about the Phillies pitcher released on July 15 is one of eight Hal has produced with Word to the World.
"My books and tracts are no cost because I think one should not have to pay to understand God's Word. On the other hand, my books are available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble at nominal prices because those outlets do not do 'free,' and I wanted to reach more than those who shop free books on Google Books."
Hal and his wife Jeanne now reside in Middleburg. Hal has a passion for writing books on apologetics as well as other Christian topics. For more information on his books and ministry, including "God in the Bull Pen," go to www.word2world.com.