Regular readers of Alan McCall’s “In the Sport-light” column know that this week’s is his last, as he is retiring from sportswriting after 40-plus years.

Putting down the pen after so long – he started writing about baseball for his hometown weekly as a teenager and never looked back – is bittersweet, both for him and for all of us, as we will miss his contributions in these pages. It’s rare for a community to have someone as talented and dedicated as Alan writing about its local athletes on a consistent basis. Hull kids are indeed lucky!

But as much as we will lament his absence, his retirement is prompted by the fulfillment of a longtime goal, as he pursues a vocation in the ministry. Or, as he termed it, he is giving up a passion to pursue a calling.

Alan is studying to obtain his pastor’s license so that he may lead a congregation on the South Shore – or, as he says, putting himself out to pastor. His Times readers already are familiar with some of his theological thoughts, which “The Sermonator” contributed during weeks when there was a break in the sports world.

In addition to writing his column, Alan has been a coach for several local youth programs and a commentator for Hull Community TV, so his contributions will be missed far beyond the pages of the Times.

We know that our readers join us in wishing Alan well as he embarks on an entirely new playing field!

If you have local sports news to share, please send items to sports@hulltimes.com by Tuesday at 8 p.m. Thanks!