NC State’s ‘Victory Over Cancer’ game brings smiles, funds to pediatric cancer research
An hour before first pitch, NC State reserve infielder Carson Falsken played catch with a group of young children in front of the Wolfpack dugout on the first base side. As they threw the ball around, another bunch of kids raced around the base paths.
NC State’s goal was to make a fun and inviting environment for children battling cancer for its ‘Victory Over Cancer’ game Sunday afternoon against Ball State. It seemed like the Wolfpack did just that, putting smiles on their faces, before a 11-3 series-sweep win over the Cardinals.
“It was really exciting because I wanted to get together with everybody,” said Shane, NC State coach Elliott Avent’s 8-year-old nephew, who is battling a brain tumor.. “I really love baseball. … I love this team. It’s my favorite team.”
The contest, which was set up by Avent in partnership with former Wolfpack standout and current MLB superstar Trea Turner, aimed to raise awareness and fundraise for pediatric cancer research to donate to the V Foundation.
Both of those goals were accomplished on a sunny day at Doak Field.
NC State raised $46,759 during its first annual fundraising game. The Wolfpack benefited from corporate sponsors Burke Brothers, Creative Artists Agency, Coca-Cola and Eastern Turf Maintenance for the event, while one of Turner’s agents made a $10,000 donation to the cause.
Avent, who birthed the idea just before the season began, hoped that it would grow as large as women’s basketball’s Play4Kay game. While that has been going on for 19 years, the Pack made a good start with a research-based contest on the diamond.
“I think it was a huge success because we put it together in a short period of time,” Avent said. “It was tough trying to coach, keep this team together with all the injuries that we’ve had, and put this thing together. I think it was a huge success.”
The Wolfpack wore special edition gold jerseys, the color for pediatric cancer, for the game with a different child’s first name or an inspirational phrase on the back. Avent had Shane’s name above his No. 9, while other jerseys read “Fighter” and “Brave.”
While Shane was in attendance, so were a handful of other children that are fighting cancer. They were able to impact the game both before and during the contest, junior catcher Jacob Cozart thought.
“The kids were in there having fun, we could feel it from the crowd that they were into the game,” said Cozart, who went 3-for-5 with a triple, a home run and two RBI. “We were just playing for them.”
The entire Wolfpack roster appeared to embrace the event, and it turned into more than what Avent expected in the inaugural game.
But the 28th-year coach, who said this week this game will become what he works on after he retires from the dugout, wants to expand the cause nationally.
“My dream is, obviously we’ll play this game every year at NC State, but I’d love to see it start around the ACC, every college in North Carolina and maybe spread out to other conferences,” Avent said. “This couldn’t have been a bigger success.”
