DARLINGTON - The season opener for the Darlington baseball team against Black Hawk Tuesday will be about more than baseball.
The Redbirds are dubbing their season opener against the Warriors at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Otto Ruf Field as "Miracle Minute," a cancer research fundraiser in the name of Carson Hartwig, a seventh-grader in Darlington who was recently diagnosed with cancer. Carson's brother, James Hartwig, is a freshman playing on the Darlington junior varsity team. Their father, Heath Hartwig, is a 1996 Black Hawk graduate.
"We try to teach our kids to do something that is bigger than themselves," Darlington coach Brad Solberg said. "We thought this was a good opportunity to help their family and other people going through this."
A voluntary donation for admission will be collected at the diamond. Between the fourth and fifth innings, Darlington and Black Hawk baseball players will pass hats through the stands to collect donations. Proceeds from the "Miracle Minute" fundraiser and those in conjunction with the Dora Ritter Wellness Center's Bunny Hop 5K Run and walk and 1-mile run/walk will be donated to the Hartwigs. The Bunny Hop 5K will start at 8:30 a.m. Saturday from the wellness center in Darlington.
Carson competed in a wrestling meet in late January. The next day at school, he noticed his shoulder was sore while shooting baskets.
"He thought he tore his shoulder muscle, and we didn't think much of it," Heath said.
Carson didn't compete at basketball practice the next day, and when it was still sore later, he went to a local doctor. Heath Hartwig said a bone biopsy at the American Family Children's Hospital in Madison confirmed that Carson had a tumor in the humerus bone of his left arm. It was stunning news for an active student-athlete.
"It flips your world upside-down," Heath said after his son was diagnosed with cancer. "It was tough for him, me and my wife, Jamie, to hear."
Carson is in the seventh week of a 10-week treatment plan where he gets six sessions of chemotherapy and stays in the hospital a few days each time he goes to Madison.
Heath said a scan has been completed showing the cancer has not spread to the rest of Carson's body.
Heath is grateful of the support his family has received.
"It's really just unbelievable how much everyone cares about what he is going through," Heath said. "There have been all kinds of gift cards and help from our parents, family and the school. We just hope that some day people don't have to go through all of this."
Solberg sees the season-opening baseball game as a great opportunity for both communities to support the cause.
"I think the fans are eager to see what both teams can put on the field," Solberg said. "I think on opening day, there is always excitement. There is always a buzz. It's warming up. Baseball is in the air."
Solberg encouraged baseball fans to contribute.
"In many other sports you have to pay $3 or $4 for admission," he said. "You usually don't have to pay for baseball games. If you bring a few extra dollars in your pocket, it will help out and go a long way for cancer research."
The Redbirds are dubbing their season opener against the Warriors at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Otto Ruf Field as "Miracle Minute," a cancer research fundraiser in the name of Carson Hartwig, a seventh-grader in Darlington who was recently diagnosed with cancer. Carson's brother, James Hartwig, is a freshman playing on the Darlington junior varsity team. Their father, Heath Hartwig, is a 1996 Black Hawk graduate.
"We try to teach our kids to do something that is bigger than themselves," Darlington coach Brad Solberg said. "We thought this was a good opportunity to help their family and other people going through this."
A voluntary donation for admission will be collected at the diamond. Between the fourth and fifth innings, Darlington and Black Hawk baseball players will pass hats through the stands to collect donations. Proceeds from the "Miracle Minute" fundraiser and those in conjunction with the Dora Ritter Wellness Center's Bunny Hop 5K Run and walk and 1-mile run/walk will be donated to the Hartwigs. The Bunny Hop 5K will start at 8:30 a.m. Saturday from the wellness center in Darlington.
Carson competed in a wrestling meet in late January. The next day at school, he noticed his shoulder was sore while shooting baskets.
"He thought he tore his shoulder muscle, and we didn't think much of it," Heath said.
Carson didn't compete at basketball practice the next day, and when it was still sore later, he went to a local doctor. Heath Hartwig said a bone biopsy at the American Family Children's Hospital in Madison confirmed that Carson had a tumor in the humerus bone of his left arm. It was stunning news for an active student-athlete.
"It flips your world upside-down," Heath said after his son was diagnosed with cancer. "It was tough for him, me and my wife, Jamie, to hear."
Carson is in the seventh week of a 10-week treatment plan where he gets six sessions of chemotherapy and stays in the hospital a few days each time he goes to Madison.
Heath said a scan has been completed showing the cancer has not spread to the rest of Carson's body.
Heath is grateful of the support his family has received.
"It's really just unbelievable how much everyone cares about what he is going through," Heath said. "There have been all kinds of gift cards and help from our parents, family and the school. We just hope that some day people don't have to go through all of this."
Solberg sees the season-opening baseball game as a great opportunity for both communities to support the cause.
"I think the fans are eager to see what both teams can put on the field," Solberg said. "I think on opening day, there is always excitement. There is always a buzz. It's warming up. Baseball is in the air."
Solberg encouraged baseball fans to contribute.
"In many other sports you have to pay $3 or $4 for admission," he said. "You usually don't have to pay for baseball games. If you bring a few extra dollars in your pocket, it will help out and go a long way for cancer research."
