Born and raised in Buffalo, New York until 10 before
being moved to Los Angeles, California, I grew up learning to love
baseball from my father who managed his little league teams for more
than 15 years. Of course with me being a girl, I was only allowed to
practice the game with his boys but never to compete in a real game
because according to dad—girls didn't play baseball.
I firmly believe that a person should dare to dream
then do it—follow his or her heart—have a passion that breathes life
into their art, music, sport or business.
I realized my baseball dream in January 2000 when a
team in the national Men's Senior Baseball League, Las Vegas
Franchise, accepted me as a real baseball player. After 39 years of
daring myself to get to this tremendous moment, I found out I had
breast cancer at the end of my rookie season...
It was devastating news to say the least. To be
kicked out of baseball by my own body. Not going to happen. Not an
option. No way. Heaven or hell. I don't think so. Not just no but
hail no!
It's nine seasons later and I still play in the Vegas
Valley Men's Baseball League which is a MSBL affiliate. Though I have lost my whole chest to cancer I
am the better person, the better athlete for it.
Cancer can destroy the body but
it cannot kill the heart. Not my heart anyway. I'm determined to
make it to Major League Baseball by being A
REAL LIVE PINK BAT who goes to the plate with a official pink bat on MLB Mother's Day.
These are the baseball cancer stories. Share them
with your friends and loved ones. Because you can have a life while
fighting cancer. And you can be a cancer-fighting champion too.
Las Vegas Review
Journal:
Surviving Cancer: Local Player Fights Back
in Game of Life
Hardball Magazine Online:
Sandvipers Lose Game But Win Big In Baseball
History
Baseball wasn't the only sport I learned to play
well. There were the equestrian events in Western and English
disciplines, track and field, softball, boxing, tennis, and
neighborhood football growing up an a teenager.
When I discovered my talent for photography in Las
Vegas, it was only natural for me to take all my lifelong
athletic skills and apply them to photography becoming a self-taught
sports action photographer.
Today I am not only a specialist in the
field of film but an accomplished athlete as well. I play both baseball and
professional football here in Las Vegas. Yes I really do play
full tackle football at 50 years of age. I'm #52 Offensive Guard
for the Las Vegas Showgirlz women's team. Visit our team website at
www.LVShowgirlz.com.
This winning combination of athletic ability and
visual graphic artistry gives me an edge over my competition in the
photography arena for producing outstanding sports action shots,
candid event images, and outdoor location portraits.
Not a bad looking 50 year old just a few weeks
from being 51...
