John Jay baseball hosts Fox Lane for its annual Strike Out Cancer tournament

The fifth anniversary of Brandon Johnson’s death recently passed, and the anniversary of his father-in-law’s passing is approaching this week. As Eric Frink ordered his customized T-shirt for the fundraising tournament, with “Mom” inscribed on the back, the John Jay-East Fishkill baseball coach was struck by how frequently cancer’s devastation is brought to mind.

“With Mother’s Day coming up, it’s one of those milestone days that a lot of people who’ve lost their mom struggle with,” said Frink, whose mother Carol succumbed to the disease eight years ago. “There are some regular days when I struggle, and I know that’s not uncommon.”

The widespread impact of cancer, with many having lost loved ones, underscores for him the importance of events that raise money for treatment, assistance, and research. This is the driving force behind John Jay hosting its Strike Out Cancer baseball tournament. The annual event will be held Sunday at Heritage Financial Park in Fishkill, with proceeds going to the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation.

The Patriots will face Fox Lane in three games, showcasing each team within their high school program. The event begins with a freshman game at 9 a.m., followed by the junior varsity contest at noon, and the featured varsity matchup at 3 p.m.

Both varsity squads are among the top teams in Section 1, with Fox Lane entering Tuesday’s play at 8-3 and John Jay at 7-2-1. Baseball will be the entertainment centerpiece while funds are raised through food sales, raffles, donations, and the auctioning of memorabilia.

“A huge debt of gratitude belongs to the booster clubs, ours and Fox Lane’s, who’ve worked tirelessly to organize this,” said Frink, who is longtime friends with Fox Lane baseball coach Matt Hillis. “Fox Lane is a huge contributor to this, fundraising and spreading awareness for the event. They’ve been incredible co-pilots.”

The Jay Fund is a nonprofit that provides financial support and services to families of children battling cancer. The charity was started by former New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin, who, while coaching at Boston College in 1992, lost a player, Jay McGillis, to leukemia.

Representatives from the organization were brought to tears last spring when the Strike Out Cancer tournament raised more than $10,000. The baseball teams were lauded for their efforts in a Jay Fund newsletter, and Frink and his wife were invited to a gala at MetLife Stadium, where they met with cancer survivors and former Giants involved with the foundation.

This tournament was inspired by and is held in memory of Johnson, a former John Jay pitcher who died of leukemia at age 19. Johnson was a standout on the baseball team and a straight-A student remembered most by friends for his charisma and kindness.

“I have former players who’ve gotten tattoos dedicated to him,” said Frink, who was moved to start this fundraiser during his visits with Johnson at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital in Valhalla.

As part of the fundraising, team members purchase shirts to be worn during the tournament that bear the name of someone afflicted by cancer whom they’re playing for. Sophomore Ayden Vitale’s mother is a survivor of the disease, and she is among the people he and his teammates will celebrate.

Frink’s wife will be running a half marathon in Maine on Saturday in honor of her father, as it will be the anniversary of his death.

“It’s something we talk about a lot,” Frink said. “Everyone knows someone who’s fighting cancer, died of it, or beaten it, people that we hold dear. Everyone has some sad memories because of it. That’s why it’s so important that we do what we can to help.”