Instances Observer photograph by Scott Kindberg Jamestown's Steven Scarfone, proper, and teammate Leo Doyle embrace after Scarfone hit a three-run house run within the eighth inning of Saturday's Good Recreation Collegiate Baseball League sport at Diethrick Park.
JAMESTOWN, NY — It was an ideal evening for a Good Recreation Collegiate Baseball League sport at Diethrick Park on Saturday.
There was not a cloud within the sky on the first tilt.
The brilliant solar made the manicured subject look higher than ever.
And most significantly, it was “Erase Most cancers” evening, sponsored by Nascentia Well being. Admission was $7, with $2 from every ticket donated to the Italian American Charity Golf Affiliation in its years-long effort to lift cash for native most cancers care.
To commemorate all of it, the Tarp Skunks wore their pink jerseys and the bases have been painted the identical shade.
Instances Observer photograph by Scott Kindberg Jamestown's Steven Scarfone, proper, is greeted by head coach Ryan Hill after hitting a three-run house run within the eighth inning of Saturday's Good Recreation Collegiate Baseball League sport at Diethrick Park.
For No. 18 on the Jamestown roster, proper fielder Steven Scarfone, the penultimate house sport of the season — together with the accompanying fundraiser — held particular that means. As a result of not two years in the past, the Staten Island native misplaced his mom, Nancy, to lymphoma.
Like most mothers whose youngsters love sports activities, Nancy was Steven's greatest follow/sport day cheerleader and driver.
However simply days earlier than she was to go away for her freshman 12 months at Clarion College (Pennsylvania), Nancy died.
She was 49 years outdated.
“She was my primary fan” Steven mentioned. “In highschool, you heard it on a regular basis. … She all the time needed the perfect for me.”
Instances Observer photograph by Warren native Scott Kindberg and Jamestown reliever Ben Berdine brings to the plate throughout Saturday's sport.
Penciled in eighth on the plate in a sport the Tarp Skunks would finally lose 10-7 to Geneva, Steven flied out to left subject within the second inning, singled to middle within the fourth and hit within the sixth. When Jamestown got here to bat within the backside of the eighth, its deficit was 10-Four. Nonetheless, the biggest crowd remained within the stands, excited as ever, hoping for one thing particular to occur.
After which he did.
With one out, Shaniel Maldonado reached base on a fielder's selection, and Leo Doyle drew a stroll towards Tyson Bryant-Dawson, which introduced Steven to the plate. To date this season, the 6-foot-Four, 210-pounder hasn't hit all that nicely, along with his batting common hovering round .200 with 23 strikeouts. Nonetheless, on a 2-2 depend, the lefty made stable contact, sending a fly ball into proper subject, which is the deepest a part of the park.
“After I Hit Her” Steven mentioned, “I noticed (Geneva proper fielder Matt Jennings) and he turned and sort of stopped. I mentioned, “No, I did it once more.” This 12 months I used to be well-known for hitting that wall.”
However then Jennings was misplaced and the ball simply cleared her.
Instances Observer photograph by Youngsville native Scott Kindberg and Jamestown reliever Nathan Lucks brings to the plate throughout Saturday's sport.
“Oh my God, it's gone” Steven recalled pondering as he started his house run trot. “The joy was loopy for the time being. I sort of stopped operating the bases just a little bit.”
It was Steven's first spherical journey of the summer time and he confirmed up “Erase Most cancers” at evening, simply after the two-year anniversary of his beloved mom's demise from the dreaded illness.
“I obtained again within the dugout and realized what I had carried out” he recalled, noting that his proper earlobe was emblazoned with lime inexperienced, signifying lymphoma consciousness. “I do know she is watching over me, my lovely mom. She's completely satisfied, she's proud.”
So have been Steve's teammates.
As he reached third, he was enthusiastically greeted by head coach Ryan Hill, and after stepping onto house plate, he shared a hug with Doyle.
The celebration solely obtained higher from there. Deck hitter Connor Kiefer gave an exaggerated high-five to Steven, instantly adopted by particular person greetings from the remainder of his teammates and a hug from coach Kari Newman.
If you happen to didn't know higher, you'd suppose Steven's blast gave the Tarp Skunks the lead, enhancing their likelihood to safe a much-needed win to maintain their West Division playoff hopes alive.
However whereas it wasn't fairly a Hollywood second, it was actually one which tugged at my heartstrings.
“I'm so completely satisfied for him” Hill mentioned. “He deserves the world. He is among the hardest employees on the market. Simply to see that from him places a smile on my face.”
Steven admitted that he was smiling by tears as he remembered his mom at that second.
“She grabbed (that ball) and threw it over the fence for me.” he mentioned.