With July approaching, and the youth baseball season drawing to a close, the biggest spotlight in McMinnville sports falls on Church League softball, where New Union's lead atop the men's standings could come under pressure from Living Word Fellowship and Holy Sticks. 

Meanwhile, unbeaten Old Testament Athletes will try to maintain their place atop the Church League volleyball standings, and the Leviathans and Cubs look to stay unbeaten in adult baseball action Sunday.

Church League Softball

The most intriguing race entering the week belongs to the Warren County Church league softball men’s division, where New Union sits atop the standings at 7-1, narrowly ahead of Living Word Fellowship (6-1) and Holy Sticks (5-2).

While New Union enjoys a week off, both of its closest challengers will have opportunities to tighten the race.

Living Word Fellowship faces a demanding Tuesday doubleheader, opening against Freedom Life at 5:30 p.m. before returning later in the evening to take on Hebron Church of Christ. Two victories would allow Living Word to keep pressure on New Union and potentially move into a tie for first place depending on future results.

Holy Sticks, meanwhile, continues its pursuit after one of the most impressive weeks of the season. Fresh off victories over Hebron and previously unbeaten Living Word, Holy Sticks will square off with Hebron again Tuesday before meeting Rock Island Church of Christ on Thursday.

The week's remaining men's games could also shape the middle of the standings. Rock Island Church of Christ enters the week at 2-4 and will face both Freedom Life and Holy Sticks on Thursday. Freedom Life sits at 2-5 and is looking to climb back into the postseason conversation.

On the women's side, first-place Centertown United Methodist (6-1) can only watch this week as second-place Rock Island Church of Christ (3-2) attempts to gain ground. Rock Island takes on Bibles on Base on Tuesday night in the division's lone scheduled game. A victory would move Rock Island within striking distance of the league leaders entering the final stretch of the season.

Church League Volleyball

The battle for first place in the volleyball league remains wide open, but Old Testament Athletes enter the week holding the strongest position.

At 3-0, Old Testament Athletes are the league's only team with three victories and will have a chance to further separate themselves from the field with two matches this week. The unbeaten squad meets Covenant Fellowship on Tuesday before facing McMinnville Church of God on Thursday.

A group of undefeated teams remains right behind them.

Cross Denominators, Rock Island Church of Christ and Westwood Church of Christ all sit at 2-0 entering the week. Cross Denominators will face Safe Harbor Church of God on Tuesday, while Rock Island and Westwood square off in one of the week's most anticipated matches later that evening.

Rock Island returns Thursday to face Safe Harbor, while Westwood will look to remain unbeaten against a fellow contender when it meets Rock Island.

Elsewhere, Called to Serve (2-1) and McMinnville Church of God (2-1) will try to stay within reach of the leaders. Church of God faces Rolling Acres BIC on Tuesday before its showdown with Old Testament Athletes on Thursday, while Called to Serve takes on Rolling Acres and Covenant Fellowship in a pair of important matches. The results could go a long way toward determining the top half of the standings heading into the season's middle stretch.

Adult Baseball League

The McMinnville Adult Baseball League returns Sunday as the early standings begin to take shape. The Cubs and the Leviathans enter the week tied atop the standings at 1-0, though the Leviathans hold the league's best run differential at plus-14 after outscoring opponents 15-1 through their first game. 

Sunday's schedule presents a major opportunity for the Leviathans, who will be the only team playing twice. They open the day against the Padres at 2 p.m. before returning to face the Mets at 4 p.m. A pair of victories could strengthen their grip on first place heading into July.

The Mets will be looking to rebound from their opening loss when they take on the Leviathans, while the evening finale features the Pirates making their season debut against the Cubs at 6 p.m. The Cubs can remain unbeaten with a victory, while the Pirates will finally get their first chance to make a statement in the standings.

Youth Baseball

While most division champions have been crowned, the McMinnville Youth Baseball League continues with the Boys 13-18 division this week with several rain-out contests. 

An updated schedule was not available at press time, but details on the remainder of the season will be added to this story when they become available.

Full Schedule

(Subject to Change)

Tuesday, June 23
Warren County Church League Softball (Edley Newman Field)
5:30 p.m. - (Men) Living Word Fellowship vs. Freedom Life Church
6:30 p.m. - (Women) Rock Island Church of Christ vs. Bibles on Base
7:30 p.m. - (Men) Holy Sticks vs. Hebron Church of Christ
8:30 p.m. - (Men) Hebron Church of Christ vs. Living Word Fellowship

Warren County Church League Volleyball (McMinnville Church of God)
5:30 p.m. - Safe Harbor Church of God vs Cross Denominators
6:30 p.m. - Covenant Fellowship Church vs Old Testament Athletes
7:30 p.m. - Rolling Acres BIC vs McMinnville Church of God
8:30 p.m. - Rock Island Church of Christ vs Westwood Church of Christ

Thursday, June 25
Warren County Church League Softball (Edley Newman Field)
5:30 p.m. - (Men) Rock Island Church of Christ vs. Freedom Life Church
6:30 p.m. - (Men) Holy Sticks vs. Rock Island Church of Christ

Warren County Church League Volleyball (McMinnville Church of God)
5:30 p.m. - McMinnville Church of God vs Old Testament Athletes
6:30 p.m. - Covenant Fellowship Church vs Called to Serve
7:30 p.m. - Rock Island Church of Christ vs Safe Harbor Church of God

Sunday, June 28
McMinnville Adult Baseball League (Edley Newman Field)
2 p.m. - Leviathans vs Padres
4 p.m. - Mets vs Leviathans
6 p.m. - Pirates vs Cubs

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