Greenfield’s Olivia Lemay and Skyler Steele of Frontier Regional have a chance to showcase their softball talents for a charitable cause at the A Shot for Life Home Run Derby and Pitchers Challenge on Aug. 29 at the New England Baseball Complex in Northborough.
All money raised goes to cancer research at Massachusetts General Hospital. Donations can be made here. To donate in Lemay and Steele’s name, comment their name in the donation.
While the event is fun, it’s all about the cause. Both Steele and Lemay have dealt with friends and family with a cancer diagnosis. Both players look forward to helping contribute to pertinent research in the battle against cancer.
“I think it’s definitely a lot more than hitting home runs,” Steele said. “I am really excited that they asked me to help raise money again. I think I did pretty well last year raising money. People supporting me and donating was awesome. Cancer affects so many people in my life, and I just really want to help.”
Steele’s job is very simple. Hit as many dingers as she can during timed intervals. Whoever leaves the park the most continues to advance through the competition. Steele plans to put in some work prior to heading to the derby. The players get a warmup, and then two-minute intervals with breaks.
“I am going to practice a lot more,” Steele said. “I am going to make my stepdad pitch to me and we are going to go out and practice on a field.”
Last year Steele racked up a total of 50 home runs across two rounds of competition, ultimately finishing in fifth place overall. She would like to increase her total to at least 70 dingers this year.
“I am trying for that much,” Steele said. “But I think I could hit even more.”
Lemay enters the arena as a pitcher in her first time at the event. She will take part in multiple accuracy challenges throughout the day. There will be multiple elite pitchers at the event. Lemay enters her junior season with the Green Wave.
“A little nervous,” Lemay said. “There’s a lot of girls who have already committed to play Division 1 softball that I have seen. But I think it will be fun. I love the cause. Everyone on their team has been amazing. I feel good, I get to give back. Especially for the people in my family who have had cancer. I feel like I am doing my job. It helps them out.”
Lemay will need to pitch for accuracy and location to advance. There is an event where pitchers have to knock down bowling pins.
A Shot for Life is “a sports based non-profit organization that funds health and cancer research initiatives. Through sports-based initiatives, community in-person events and online activities, ASFL meaningfully engages and unites communities, inspires hope and teaches community leadership.”
Players are selected from the MIAA and from the NEPSAC leagues, additionally, if a player is from Massachusetts but plays in a different state, they are still eligible for selection. Each player has a $1,000 goal for the fundraiser.
