BENNINGTON, Vt. – After finishing a nine-inning conference battle on Saturday, the Southern Vermont College and Newbury College baseball teams sat side-by-side, having their heads shaved to culminate a season of fundraising to support the Vs. Cancer Foundation's fight against kids' cancer.
This marks the second year SVC has participated and hosted the event and the first that the Nighthawks joined the cause. Collectively, the teams had helped raise over $8,000 worth of donations by the time they started the game. Both squads were able to put aside the joys and sorrows of their respective victory and defeat from that Saturday game to sit together and have their hair clipped away.
"This weekend went way beyond the on-field results, with wins and losses," said SVC head coach Dave Gage. "The opportunity to fight childhood cancer is something we are very proud to be a part of. I believe the baseball coaches around the country and the VS. Cancer Foundation are the first step to the solution. Overall, this is an experience our kids will have forever."
Starting off the day was a ceremonial first pitch by honorary Mountaineer and local 16 year old Kirstin Hodges. Hodges, a nearby resident and patient at The Children's Hospital at Albany Medical Center, has been in remission from a cancerous brain tumor since 2008 when she was only 10 years old. She was welcomed to the team back in December and went out to the front of the mound at SVC's Bill Epstein Field on Saturday to start not only the 2014 home season, but also a day of celebration with the goal of eradicating childhood cancer.
"I want to thank Kirstin for being a part of our team and showing our team how to overcome adversity," continued Gage. "She showed us that with a positive outlook, anything can be accomplished."
While the Mountaineers shaved their heads alone last year following a doubleheader at home against Becker College, Gage decided to ask Newbury College head coach Kraig Kupiec to join in on the effort and see if they could get even more money raised together.
"Having Newbury baseball participate in the Vs. Cancer fundraiser has opened the eyes of the players to this terrible disease," commented Kupiec following Sunday's doubleheader. "Learning the challenges these kids face every day gives us all the opportunity to step back and put their lives in perspective. Knowing that our efforts can be directed to research and a child's fighting chance is the most gratifying part of this experience. The players from both teams, while battling in three great ball games over the weekend, together put aside their personal vanity and shaved their heads in this more-important battle in a sign of unity against this disease."
Southern Vt. took two games of the three-game series over the weekend, but every player was victorious in helping raise funds and recognition for the Vs. Cancer Foundation and its ongoing efforts to help children around the country. The Vs. Cancer Foundation is an organization dedicated to saving kids' lives by empowering athletes and communities to fund lifesaving childhood cancer efforts.