fullcountpitch.com

By Gary Armida, Sr.

In this age of steroids, astronomical salaries and contracts, I came across an item that really made me appreciate my love of baseball. The item came out of our local newspaper and is now hanging on the wall in my home office. The article told the story of a local baseball player, Josh DePew. I saw Josh play for the Valley Central HS Baseball team and for the Newburgh Nuclears American Legion team, in my role as a part-time scout for the Atlanta Braves. The article told Josh’s story about his courageous battle with acute lymphoblast leukemia, after he was diagnosed three months ago at the tender age of 19. Josh was about to begin another round of chemotherapy, one that would most likely end his summer baseball season.

 The Nuclears were winning a June 13 game, 12-2 and the game was just about to be called due to the 10-run rule. Josh approached his pal, starting pitcher, Jack Crawford, and told him, ‘Let me finish this.” The two convinced Coach, John Giametta to let him finish up the game for Crawford. Nobody knew that Josh had just undergone chemotherapy the day before. Josh didn’t throw with the speed that had allowed him to pitch for Southern Connecticut State University this past spring, throwing in the 70’s as opposed to his normal mid-80’s range, but he used his slider and pure guts to get through the inning, even striking out a batter. As the final out was made, Josh‘s teammates mobbed him on the mound, some fighting back tears.

Josh has a great attitude about his battle with leukemia and has set a date of November 1 as the day he will return to the Southern Connecticut baseball program. The newspaper quoted Josh, ” Some patients have told me that it’s impossible to be ready by November. I tell them, maybe for you, not for me.” “In the hospital, I thought of something to get me through this. November 1-that’s when me and my friends are going to be playing baseball together again.”

 I ask that all of FCP’s readership pray for Josh and his family and I hope I read another article about Josh’s return to the mound. So, forget about steroids, contracts, salaries, and everything else that takes away from the great game of baseball…this kid is what baseball is all about.