The first game of the season involving these two rivals is also a fundraiser to assist Zack Downey 鈥� a Mariners鈥� pitcher and third baseman 鈥� and his family in his battle with non-Hodgkin鈥檚 lymphoma as the 17-year-old was diagnosed with cancer last November and immediately began treatments, travelling to and from Vancouver.
Obviously unable to don his spikes and glove this season, Downey was there to throw out the first pitch in the Mariners鈥� home-opener earlier this season and he hopes to be able to toss out another as the teams meet up at Royal Athletic Park tonight at 7 p.m. as the park鈥檚 tenant, the Victoria HarbourCats, use the game as a dry run for their upcoming season.
Fitting that both highly competitive BCPBL teams will come together for the Downey family鈥檚 cause.
鈥淵es, it鈥檚 a league game and, yes, it鈥檚 important, but there鈥檚 more to it,鈥� stressed Mariners manager Mike Chewpoy. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about raising some money for and assisting one of our teammates.鈥�
A fund has been established in Downey鈥檚 name and fans will be asked to donate at tonight鈥檚 game to assist the family with costs.
鈥淗e鈥檚 in a battle and it鈥檚 a battle that he鈥檚 winning,鈥� said Chewpoy, whose Mariners have dedicated this season to their fallen teammate. 鈥淲e wear his number [No. 6] on our hats and I write him on the lineup card every single day.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been hard on the kids,鈥� admitted the manager.
鈥淔or some people, it honestly scares the crap out of them. Sure, some of these guys aren鈥檛 young kids, some have dealt with cancer in their own families so they鈥檙e not strangers to it. The ones that are, are a little more uncertain and more quiet about it, which is totally understandable.鈥�
Downey is battling and doctors believe he can make a full recovery. He is currently on the eighth of a nine-round chemotherapy treatment and was fighting off an allergic reaction over the weekend. But he plans to be there tonight rooting on his teammates, as he did in the league-opener and during a recent game against Langley.
鈥淚f everything is still good [healthwise], I鈥檒l be there,鈥� said Downey.
鈥淓verything right now is good. I鈥檓 just working my way through this eighth [treatment] and hopefully the last one will be easy and I鈥檒l be done,鈥� added Downey, who wants to come back and play next season.
鈥淚 will be rooting them on [tonight]. They鈥檒l win this one,鈥� he insisted.
So far, more than 2,000 free tickets have been handed out through the HarbourCats鈥� office. Donation areas will be established for the Downey fund and fans may want to make their way down a little earlier (gates open at 6) just to make their entrance a little easier and smoother. Tickets can still be picked up today at the HarbourCats鈥� office or at the gate tonight. Concessions will be open.
鈥淭he courage of Zack and his family is an inspiration to all of us in the Mariners鈥� organization and to his friends and schoolmates,鈥� said Mariners鈥� president Adrian Somers. 鈥淗e has shown us how, when faced with an incredibly difficult challenge, to not give up 鈥� but rather to dig deep and fight it head on.
鈥淭he funds from this game will help Zack鈥檚 family achieve the goal of bringing him back home this summer. The HarbourCats have provided a fantastic opportunity to get great exposure for our players and to support a cause that is important to many baseball fans in Victoria. We are looking forward to playing this game and hopefully getting Zack back on the field soon,鈥� added Somers.
Those not attending can still donate at any Coast Capital Savings branch where a fund in the name of Zack Downey is established under the member number of 7029363.
Bottle donations are also being taken at the Bottle Depot where another account has been set up in his name.
鈥淚t鈥檒l be an emotional night,鈥� said Chewpoy. 鈥淗e鈥檚 just such a great kid. Zack and his family are just the nicest people.鈥�
And Downey may be tossing out the first pitch, again.
鈥淚f I鈥檓 asked to, I will,鈥� he said.
EXTRA INNINGS: The Mariners are 13-7 on the season, coming off four straight wins on the Lower Mainland over the weekend. The Eagles are 10-9, having split four games in the Okanagan this past weekend.
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