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For the third year, Rutherford Regional’s Cancer Resource Center sponsored the Forest City Owls “PINK OUT Night” at McNair Field. All the baseball players wore special pink uniforms. even the socks, bats, and the base-bags were pink. The scoreboard proudly proclaimed “Let’s Go Pink Ladies!”
This is now a very special occasion, held every year, as we salute and raise funds to help others in the community facing a cancer diagnosis. The survivors and those still in treatment all gathered together at McNair Field on Saturday, June 14th, and held balloons which were later released in honor of and memory of all breast cancer survivors of Rutherford County. To help raise funds a silent auction for the Owls pink jerseys, the pink bats as well as a raffle for mascots “Hoot” and Annie” jerseys.
The game began as Carla Ruff, a breast cancer survivor, threw out the first pitch. The balloons were released as a poem “What Cancer Cannot Do” was read by another breast cancer survivor, Pam Jones. The entire game was not just about baseball, but about what the special night could do to help cancer victims.
The game itself seemed to parallel how cancer victims don’t give up and fight. The Owls were playing the Thomasville Hi-Toms. Hi-Toms scored in the first inning with a home run! The score remained 1-0 for the next four innings. The Owls continued to struggle just as cancer victims do. Then the Owls scored in the fifth inning to tie the game 1-1. They scored again in the bottom of the sixth to make the score, Owls 2, Hi Toms 1. Nothing happened for either team in the seventh. In the top of the eighth inning the Hi-Toms scored two runs to take the lead temporarily 3-2, but the Owls came back in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game, 3-3. The struggle continued, but just like a cancer victim knows “you never give up.” Top of the ninth and Thomasville is kept from scoring. Bottom of the ninth with time running out, the Owls rally and end up with the bases loaded and one out, Zach Cerbo came to bat. The crowd hushed and together with the entire team went wild as he hit a line drive to change the tied score to 4-3! Owls win. It is the same feeling of joy when a breast cancer victim wins and is told they are in remission.
Jamie Ingraham, Rutherford Regional’s Cancer Outreach Program Manager, said about this special event: “This is a wonderful opportunity for the community to come together and recognize the courage and strength of our breast cancer survivors.” The annual “PINK OUT Night” not only is a fund raiser, but also increases breast cancer awareness.
Just think, the Forest City Owls “PINK OUT” all began a few years ago when Pam Jones, a breast cancer survivor, was honored by her friends at the Owls. Now thanks to Ken & Betty Silver, Owners of the Owls organization, and Rutherford Regional it is an annual event. One might liken the idea to the parable of the mustard seed. Without a doubt, the Forest City Owls “PINK OUT” baseball game is yet another example of how Rutherford County is a great caring community.
