Willie Cauley-Stein reconnected with an old friend and went trap shooting in Grant County

Willie Cauley-Stein has settled back into his old Kentucky home this summer, popping up at golf courses and restaurants around town in between La Familia’s practices and games in The Basketball Tournament. Like last year, the former Cat wasted no time reconnecting with Kentucky fans, even going the extra mile to spend time with one in the woods of Northern Kentucky on Wednesday.

Back in 2015, Willie met Toby Schry, an 11-year-old Kentucky fan suffering from mitochondrial disease, a progressive, incurable metabolic disorder that causes a deficit in life-sustaining energy. You may remember Toby, who is also Jared Lorenzen’s cousin, from the stories we wrote about him and his friendship with Willie in 2015. Willie frequently visited with Toby that year as he dealt with a variety of complications from his disease. They stayed in touch after Willie left Kentucky, with Willie even calling Toby from China in 2016 as Toby was being wheeled into surgery.

This week, the two friends reunited in person. Toby and his mother Amy Schry went to La Familia’s game vs. War Ready on Sunday, and stuck around after so Toby could say hello. Now 21, Toby is still dealing with mitochondrial disease, going to the hospital weekly for treatments, but has far exceeded expectations for those with his condition, even working his way through college with online classes. That’s a testament to his doctors, Toby’s positive attitude, his family, and the support of friends like Willie.

“With mitochondrial disease, the specific kind that he has, they told me that the Cleveland Clinic when he was four that he wouldn’t make it to 10 years old,” Amy told KSR of Toby. “They said treatment wouldn’t work and that I should just take him home and enjoy the time I had left. There’s not a chance I was giving up; thankfully, neither was his other doctor, but I certainly tried to make sure he also enjoyed his life, and people like Willie brought really big happiness when his life was a whole lot harder than it is now.”

For that reason, Toby seized on the chance to thank Willie in person. The two exchanged new numbers, which led to an even cooler moment. On Wednesday, Willie and former Kentucky Baseball player Corey Littrell came to Toby’s grandparents’ house in Grant County to trap shoot. The two former Cats stayed at the house for a few hours, shooting clay, catching up with Toby’s family, and enjoying Amy’s cooking and the Kentucky bourbon and beer on tap. It was the perfect afternoon. Willie even featured it on his Instagram story.

“I am so very grateful that Toby continues to defy the odds, that even on a two-treatment week, he had the energy to enjoy such a special day, for people like Willie who have made such a difference in Toby’s life,” Amy wrote on Facebook.

“Shooting clays with your favorite UK Basketball player of all time, is easily the coolest the coolest thing a Kentucky boy can ever do!” Toby added.

Amy said that Willie charmed the whole family. Her 75-year-old father had a ball showing the former Kentucky stars his home, a log cabin that he built himself, for which Willie called him an artist. Amy said Willie and Littrell, who went on to play Major League Baseball, were “really good shots” when it came to shooting clays and even made a game out of it, with Toby and Willie’s team coming out on top.

“Willie is the most down-to-earth, chill guy ever,” Amy said. “He’s the same guy he was 10 years ago when he was giving Toby special moments.”

To most, this would be a grand gesture, but for Willie, it’s second nature. Earlier this year, he reconnected with another old friend, Olivia. The two met in 2015 when Olivia, who has cerebral palsy, was four years old. Olivia told her friends and family she was going to marry Willie, and when he heard about it, he surprised her with a lunch date at the Child Development Center of the Bluegrass. In January, Olivia was front and center at KSBar when Willie was a guest on the radio show. Yet another heartwarming moment with a lasting impact.

Enjoy some photos from their afternoon and Willie and Toby’s friendship over the years.