On a warm and sunny Sunday afternoon at the Harry K. Sickler Athletic Complex, life seemed as little more normal as baseball players took the field to the sound of the National Anthem. The 2021 Tyrone Golden Eagle baseball season is set to start April1 and this day was a chance to recognize the players, coaches, and one special boy.
Visitors to the fields will see a new flagpole gracing the outfield line, a tribute to Adam Fink, a Tyrone baseball player that lost his battle with cancer in 2012 at the age of 10. Adam would have been a senior this year so the Team Adam Committee and Tyrone Baseball Boosters set aside time to remember this young lover of the game. Team Adam was created in May of 2012 to help raise funds for Adam Fink who had been diagnosed with Cancer. The day was a fun day of baseball and memories for the Tyrone little league teams. On November 17, 2012, one day before his 10th birthday, Adam passed away. The loss was felt by all that who knew him and his courageous spirit. Team Adam representative Terri Schultz commented, “Adam reminded us all that the simple things in life that bring us joy are what matters. Adam inspired all who knew him fighting through his disease so he could play the sports he loved.”
Team Adam continued until the year 2016. Over the 4 years the event raised funds for other children and their families fighting illness. “The Families of Abigal Boyer, Eddie Coltabaugh, Sharon Saylor, and Nathan Kost were gifted over $17,000, said Schultz. “We also made donations to the Danville Ronald McDonald house, and Camp Dost, a summer camp for kids with cancer. The fund helped to add a new back stop to the little league field and a playground with the help of Eagle Scout AJ Grassi. Team Adam also awarded over $ 4,000 of baseball scholarships to a TAHS senior baseball player. Recipients Kaden Hunter, Bradly Wirtner, Nathaniel Soellner, Luke Brenneman, Brett Robinson, Cory Lehman, and Colson Lewis were all awarded their senior year a $500 scholarship to further their education. This year would have been Adams senior year and along with Adams parents Terry and Marie Fink the Team Adam committee it was unanimously decided to purchase a flag pole for the TAHS baseball fields in Memory of Adam and honoring the class of 2021. The Flag pole was placed last fall and with the support of Albermarle and the existing funds in the Team Adam account.”
With this season’s 28 Varsity and JV players on the third baseline and 24 Jr High players on the first baseline, the American flag was raised as the Tyrone High School Band played the national anthem making the final Team Adam contribution a reality. Team Adam Committee members include Terri Shultz, Noell Lucas, Lori Wirtner, Bethann Coleman, Angela Coleman, Shannon Lang, Heidi Shetler, BJ Savino, Missy Lewis, and Sharon Gripp.
Following the flag raising, each player and coach was recognized along with the class of 2021 seniors. Schultz ended the day by adding, “As you take the field this season and in the future may you always remember that you have an angel in the outfield and his name is Adam. Do your best, play hard, and remember to always have fun.” Junior High will open its season on March 29 at Central and Varsity and JV will travel to Penns Valley on April 1.
