While it’s known for its success on the basketball court, Liberty Christian Academy has added another sport to the schedule this season.A last-minute decision has prompted the development of a baseball team, which takes the place of a spring volleyball team the school previously fielded.“The boys are all pretty excited to have a baseball team,” said Faith Pietzman, an assistant coach who was instrumental in the change. “Now that a couple of the boys have gotten older we have enough players and were able to make the switch.”Once basketball season concluded in late February the interest in forming a baseball team heightened and the process was expedited.“We pulled together a team and equipment within a couple weeks,” said Pietzman. “As soon as basketball was over we started talking about practice for the next sport.”The Eagles will have to make sacrifices, including forgoing any home games and playing a limited schedule during their first season.“Not all (Christian) schools have baseball teams, and most of the schools we’re playing are bigger,” said Pietzman.Liberty Christian does not have a home field and presently just has eight games scheduled, including contests against Christian Academy of Greater St. Louis, North County Christian and Christian Fellowship of Columbia. The Eagles opened their season over the weekend at Crosspoint Christian.Pietzman says a Wright City citizen is allowing the school to use a private baseball field located on his property along Bell Road.“It’s a great facility with a batting cage and a pitching machine,” said Pietzman.The team has 12 players from grades seven through 11 and are coached by Mark Fox. Like with basketball, the Missouri Christian Schools Athletic Association hosts a state tournament in Joplin, but Pietzman says the Eagles will opt out during this first season.“I’m hoping and believing this is a continuing thing,” said Pietzman.LIBERTY CHRISTIAN BASEBALLSubmitted Photo.