Street Kids/Easton/PAS Softball

Street Kids Welcome Children From
Memorial; Remember Jason Roncz

South Bend, IN-

It was a special night at the Belleville Complex in
South Bend on Monday night as the Street Kids
Easton/PAS Softball team - proudly sponsored in
leagues by Zolman Tire - opened up the 2008
platinum league season with some special guests
and a special moment for a fallen player.

In cooperation with the Pediatric Oncology
Program at Memorial Children's Hospital, the
SKS welcomed several children who are battling
cancer along with their families to the complex for
some fun, food and softball action. The children
came onto the field for about 40 minutes prior to
the double header against the former South Bend
Scrap team, and played catch, hit some balls and
run around on the field. It was a moment several
players will never forget.

"This was one of the greatest moments of my
career," said Lanny Fisher. "To be able to help
put a smile on the faces of these kids knowing
what they are going through was a thrill."

Tammy Robison, parent advocate at Memorial, was on hand Monday night with the children and took in
the action. "This was amazing," she said. "I'm so thankful for the Street Kids team for doing this!"

After the fun on the field with the kids, Street Kids director TJ Jorgensen spoke to the many people on
hand.

"The families and kids you see here tonight, are going through or have gone through some of the toughest
battles in their lives," he said. "Many times we take the field to play ball, often taking for granted the
luxuries we may have. Some of these kids, as well as millions more around the world, don’t have that
luxury.

"People have asked myself and other members of our team why do you do this? The answer is simple.
We want to make a difference. If the people here tonight can see the joy that we are bringing to these
children, maybe they will be inspired to do something."

South Bend Parks director John Byers halted action on the other three diamonds while Jorgensen spoke
and then introduced Nick Relias from South Bend Scrap.

Last fall, Jason Roncz of SB Scrap passed away unexpected, leaving behind a family and dozens of
friends and teammates. On Monday, both the SKS team as well as the Scrap team, took a moment to
remember Roncz.

"Jason was our friend and
our teammate, and it gives
me great honor to retire his
jersey tonight," said Relias
to the crowd. He then laid
the jersey of the fallen
player on home plate and
Fisher threw three balls to
unofficially "walk" Roncz,
something he did quite
often in his career.

After the special moment
for Roncz, the two teams
took to the field for the opening of a double header. The SKS team came out strong, putting up six runs in
the first inning, and another 10 in the third inning, but Scrap battled back, keeping the game within striking
distance all the way to the seventh inning, but the Kids defense was too much as they pulled out the game
one victory, 20-11.

In the nightcap, the Kids opened up with 13 runs before their defense ever took the field, then came back
with six more in the second inning. Despite Scrap making a strong effort to come back, the Kids were just
too much, as they would pull away and win, 26-16.

Lanny Fisher led all hitters going 9-for-9, including hitting his sixth home run of the season. Tony Hardiman
went a perfect 6-for-6 and Jake Underwood went 6-for-8, including hitting two home runs, giving him 29
on the season. Single season home run king Joe Horvath added a 6-for-8 night, including hitting three
home runs. He now has 15 home runs in 12 games. Also homering on the night was Jamie Everett, Carl
Underwood, TJ Jorgensen, Chris Firebaugh, and Shane Varga, who connected for two.

The night was memorable and the SKS players left the park that night feeling very good about what they
set out to do. Their goal was to touch the lives of these kids, and hopefully, they did just that.

Up next for the SKS team (40-7 overall) is the league opener in Mishawaka on Thursday.