Studer Community Institute

Strike Out Cancer games have special meaning for Argonauts' baseball

March 26, 2015
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The West Florida baseball team will be playing for something more than Gulf South Conference wins when the team takes the field Saturday. The Argonauts will be hosting Strike Out Cancer games to raise awareness and funds for cancer research. The day is especially significant to one Argo who was diagnosed with cancer almost five years ago. Junior catcher Ben Emery is a cancer survivor who was diagnosed with Stage 3 Non-Hodgkin’s Burkitt’s Lymphoma during the summer after his sophomore year of high school. Emery underwent four months of chemotherapy the fall of his junior season before recovering in time to compete in the spring. After having success at Pensacola State College, Emery transferred to UWF where he began playing for the Argos last fall. “Ben is one of those special kids,” UWF coach Mike Jeffcoat said. “I don’t think a lot of his teammates, unless they asked him, would know he’s a cancer survivor. He’s not somebody that wants anybody to feel sorry for him. But, he’s a guy that’s an example of someone who knows it’s a privilege to play baseball. Ben’s a prime example of perseverance, being tough and overcoming obstacles on the field and in life.” Although he was a standout student-athlete with college ambition his first two years at Dunedin High School, his diagnosis the summer after his sophomore year threatened to prevent him from achieving that goal. “I was at an East Cobb showcase during the summer when I started having stomach pain in the morning,” Emery said. “I played a game that day and then went to the hospital after.” Scans produced inconclusive results, and Emery eventually had exploratory surgery before being diagnosed. "I was in shock more than anything," Emery told the Tampa Bay Times in 2010, shortly after his diagnosis. “I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I didn't think something like this could happen to me. I was a little bit scared.” But Emery decided he wasn’t going to let the diagnosis break his spirit. His next question for doctors was: “When can I get back on the field? It’s important for me to come back,” he told the Times that summer. He did come back. After four months of chemotherapy, Emery was cleared to begin regular baseball activities in November of his junior year of high school. He eventually went on to be named a three-time all-county honorable mention, PCAC all-county second team honoree, Rawlings/Perfect Game Preseason Florida Region All High School Seniors Team Honorable Mention and a Pinellas-Hillsborough All-Star Selection. Before transferring to UWF, Emery spent time at Pensacola State College where he was named Second-Team All-Conference, a FCSAA Academic All-American, a 2013-14 NJCAA Academic All-American and awarded the PSC Jim Kline award. “Don’t take any situation you have for granted,” Emery said of the lessons he’s learned. “Injuries come and go. You’ve just got to make the best of your situation. Every day you get to come out to the field is definitely something you look forward to. You don’t know if you’ll always be able to or not.” The UWF baseball and softball teams host Lee in Strike Out Cancer games Saturday, March 28. The fundraiser will take place at both the UWF Softball Complex and Jim Spooner Field, and all proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society. “Any time you can help raise funds to continue research, help find ways to cure it or help the patients who battle it is something we definitely want to be involved in,” Jeffcoat said. “Hopefully we have a great day and can give any survivors or people undergoing treatment a day to get away from anything bringing them down. We think it’ll be a great day to watch baseball and support a great cause.”

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Strike Out Cancer games have special meaning for Argonauts' baseball

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