What could get a middle school athlete to wear a pink shirt onto the playing field?

A cause that's bigger than baseball.

Baseball teams the Richview Cowboys and Clarksville Academy Cougars will don pink jersies for the Pink Game, set for 2 p.m. Sunday, April 3, at Clarksville High School baseball field. The game aims to be flamboyant, and to use that attention to raise money for breast cancer research.

"Wearing pink is a brave and bold step for middle school boys!" said Greg Smith, who organized Clarksville's first Pink Game and plans to make it an annual event. "Even the umpires, who are often referred to as 'Blue' by baseball players and coaches because of the shirt color they usually wear, will be in pink for this game."

Smith has generated a swell of support for the effort, including that of local celebrity Cydney Miller, who was Mrs. Tennessee International 2010 and Mrs. Tennessee America 2008. Miller has lost several relatives to cancer, and her mother, Janet Sizeler, was diagnosed with colon cancer nine years ago and is now fighting lung cancer. Miller uses the audience she gains through public appearances to promote the power of early detection and prevention of cancer.

"By embracing that message, we honor the heroes who fought before us and can keep those who follow from ever having to fight," Miller writes at The Road to the Cure, www.theroadtothecure.com.

Miller will speak to attendees at Sunday's game about the ways cancer has impacted her family.

Community support

Many others have donated their talents leading up to the moment "Play ball!" is called on Sunday. Clarksville Sporting Goods created the unique pink jersies the players will wear.

"Ronnie Page, from Clarksville Sporting Goods, is also printing up 100 pink T-shirts that will have both teams' logo and a statement to commemorate this first Pink Game," Smith said.

T-shirts will be sold at the game for $10, and Page will donate all proceeds to breast cancer research. Umpires Pat Neal and Brian Cobb are donating their services to the game. The Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory provided a pink bat for the game.

"Players from both teams will autograph the bat and it will be donated to the Sports Hall section" of Customs House Museum & Cultural Center, Smith said. "Once the game is over, Richview players will give their pink game hats to middle school students that attend the game to thank their fans for supporting the Cowboys' effort to defeat cancer."

The survivors

For many involved, the cause is personal.

Pat Pennington, a Richview Middle School science teacher and breast cancer survivor, will throw out the first pitch.

"I never thought it would happen to me," Pennington said about her breast cancer diagnosis. "We don't have any cancer in our family at all."

During her cancer treatments, Pennington was concerned how her students would feel about having a bald teacher. She wore baseball caps to school that said, "Life is Good," and the kindness she received from her students proved the truth of the sentiment. Pennington finished chemotherapy in October 2009 and had her last surgery in December 2010. She has cancer treatments to thank for being alive and well to spend her spring break playing with first grandchild, 4-month-old Ruger Ace Pennington. And she was thrilled to go back to the classroom this week, surrounded by colleagues who have offered her so much support. Pennington is touched by all the boys who will show their concern so publicly on Sunday.

"I appreciate what they're doing. I was amazed that they did it to begin with, to wear the pink. You know how boys are!" she said. "It's good for them to reach out past themselves. They're such good kids."

Cancer touches all

Some of the young athletes involved have felt cancer's pain firsthand, like Blake Atkins, who lost his father to cancer. John Austin Peay, a Cougar ball player, and Nolen Milton, a Cowboy, will play against each other on Sunday. But each lost his grandmother to the illness.

Both Todd Schmittou, coach for Clarksville Academy, and Rod Streeter, coach for Richview, said they are honored to be involved with the Pink Game, and proud of their middle school athletes' dedication to the cause.

"Cancer affects people of all ages and whether it has touched your family directly or indirectly," Streeter said in a release. "It is awesome that our kids can use something they love, such as baseball, to raise money and awareness to fight this terrible disease."

Admission to the game is free, and donations will be collected for breast cancer research. Supporters are encouraged to wear pink. Anyone who wears pink to Sunday's game will be rewarded with pink lemonade.

"I hear about the work that is being done in cancer research and I believe that we are getting closer to finding a cure," Pennington said. "These students make me proud for stepping up in the fight against cancer. What a great example to us all."

 

Written by

STACY LEISER
THE LEAF-CHRONICLE