By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – Cancer steals life, with such viciousness and disregard for how well the victim lived and cherished it, but it cannot rob memories. Those last for the next generations, recalling a soft smile or a captured moment, a gentle touch or a proud handshake. Everyone has been touched by the brutal disease, all have a favorite snapshot of those who have battled valiantly and bravely.
Reece Goodgame will never forget his Papaw Kent, who passed in 2019. Bedford North Lawrence’s senior second baseman, the smiling spark of emotional energy on the field and in the dugout, hopes to honor his memory. Goodgame is destined for the Air Force, thus he deserves a salute for his future service.
If anyone deserved a grand moment during the annual Coaches vs. Cancer fundraiser, it was the kid who has fought through multiple injuries, who embodies all those who have lost loved ones. With one swing, Goodgame made a memory he will never forget.
Goodgame clubbed a surprising, no-doubt home run into the wild blue yonder, capping BNL’s 11-0, five-inning victory over Mitchell on Friday night. Cutler Chastain also launched a home run and drove in five runs, and Cam Gates struck out six while authoring a shutout. But the two main stories were the $7,000-plus raised to benefit the Lawrence County Cancer Patient Services, and the Goodgame grand tour in the fourth inning.
As that baseball sailed over the right-field fence, Goodgame could barely contain his emotions. Did his feet touch the turf? Did he remember the congratulatory hand slap from Mitchell shortstop Cooper McFadden (a great gesture of sportsmanship amidst a rivalry) as he rounded second base? Doubtful on both counts. His first homer since his 13-and-under days was a lightning bolt from above.
“Oh man, I was excited,” Goodgame said. “It means the world. County rival, cancer game, it feels good.”
Then the weight of the day settled on him. There’s more to this than baseball. This was the 12th annual fundraiser for the Stars, and the contest was overshadowed by the reasons for it. Every player, every coach, played in memory or honor of someone who has courageously fought the disease. Everyone has their own Papaw Kent.
“It just means so much more, coming from the perspective of how evil and short life can be,” Goodgame said. “I lost him at a young age. It shows me to spend time with your loved ones and not take anything for granted.”
The solemn pregame ceremony, with the focus on colon cancer and the spotlight honoring former BNL and Mitchell volleyball coach Scott Saunders, included an honorary first pitch by Jeri Spires (Saunders’ daughter) and a moment to celebrate with those who are still fighting. BNL coach Steven McNabb admitted to tears during the national anthem, and he can’t be the only one.
“I cry every time,” McNabb said. “Every year. It never fails. I know everyone here feels that way about someone. So it means a lot, it’s bigger than the game.”
Back to the game for a moment. BNL scored in the first (with Gates scoring from second base on a sacrifice fly), then erupted for five in the second. Chastain ripped a two-run single, Chase Rynders followed with a RBI hit, and Jaden Gilbert launched a sacrifice fly for a 7-0 lead.
The Stars finished with the two bombs. Chastain blasted a two-run homer to right in the third, then came Goodgame’s goodbye drive in the fourth. That triggered the mercy rule.
“That was something we’re all proud of,” McNabb said of the last blast. “He got into that one. I’m really happy for him, what he has gone through in his career, with injuries. Now he’s getting an opportunity, and he’s making the most of it. He’s hustling everywhere he goes. Nothing he does disrespects the game, and he’s being rewarded for that.“
The Bluejackets (8-7) spent most of their energy and pitching on Thursday night’s conference clash with West Washington. Boston True had two hits, and Bryson Zeeks smacked a double off the left-field fence, but they could not bunch any hits together to crack Gates.
“Mitchell attacked some fastballs, but Cam did exactly what we needed him to do,” McNabb said.
BNL improved to 8-8, but the bigger number was the money raised for the worthy charity.
”That’s a big number to give back,” McNabb said. “It’s special.”
“A lot of the boys have people who are close to them that have been affected by cancer,” Mitchell coach J.D. Gaines said. “So this makes it more special, being a county rival, just trying to make life bigger than just baseball.”
Mitchell will visit Perry Central on Monday, while BNL will face a rematch with New Albany in the first round of the Hoosier Hills Conference tournament that same night.
