Striking out breast cancer

DAVE GORGON

A high school varsity softball game between Southgate Anderson and Wyandotte Roosevelt may not have had quite the same competitive spirit as usual, but the end result left both teams feeling like winners.

The Pink Out Softball Game on May 15 at Anderson’s home field raised $2,600 to purchase supplies to make breast cancer patients feel more comfortable after undergoing surgery.

The hosting Titans and the visiting Bears went all out to make sure the game was a success.

Both teams wore special T-shirts. Anderson girls and coaches were dressed in pink; Roosevelt girls and coaches wore white shirts outlined in pink. They had student-designed logos on the front and the name of cancer patients they were dedicating the game to on the back.

Admission was free and the stands on both sides – decorated with pink balloons and posters of cancer patients – were pretty much standing-room only.

Everyone seemed to agree that the most startling attraction was the on-field base lines, in which Anderson field maintenance personnel used a special pink paint, to go with a painted pink “STA” abbreviation (for Southgate Thomas Anderson) and a painted pink ribbon, the symbol of the fight against cancer. The effort surprised and put smiles on those on the field and in the stands.

Girls on both sides came together before the start of the game to pose for photos. In fact, some Roosevelt players thanked Anderson coaches and players for letting them be part of the game.

Instead of a seventh-inning stretch during the game, cancer survivors in attendance were recognized and received bouquets of flowers during the fourth inning as players exited their dugouts and applauded.

Anderson parents worked concessions during the game, selling 50/50 tickets and raffle tickets to win one of 19 prize baskets, including three donated by Roosevelt players and three donated by sponsors.

The Titans won the game, 7-4, but everyone seemed to go home happy.

“It was honestly just a good feeling,” said Paige Olson, the lone senior on the Roosevelt team. “A lot of people in my life have had breast cancer. Our fans were able to go to another school and see things like pink chalk on the field and cancer awareness symbols on the field. It was a heartwarming feeling. It’s amazing we could all come together to do it.”

The special game was the idea of Anderson players, who approached Coach Eric Druchniak, who said he “put the ball in their court” by making them pick the charity, decide how to raise the money and select a date on the schedule for the Pink Out game.

“A couple days later, they came back with all kinds of ideas,” Druchniak said. “I’m proud of them. They took the initiative to come up with the ideas.”

A meeting with team parents followed. Rebecca Heyer, a nurse at Corewell Health in Trenton and the mother of Titans player Izzy Heyer, suggested proceeds be used to purchase special items for patients of Dr. Helen Mabry, a renowned breast cancer surgeon at Corewell.

“It picked up steam from there,” Druchniak said, especially after Roosevelt Coach Ricky Dennis said his team was in.

“We are playing for fun, but a lot of people play for other reasons, too,” Dennis said. “This was a great opportunity to get out there and play for something good.”

Families put together gift baskets for the raffle. Three businesses donated to the cause: Tres Solgne, a medical spa in Riverview, donated a gift basket with $500 in services. Floral Designs in Southgate provided a half-off savings on bouquets that were presented to cancer survivors during the fourth inning. Joy Moon

SEE PINK OUT, Page 13