Written By: Brett Korpi
BOSTON- When the Boston College Eagles defeated NC State Wolfpack 8-3 at historic Fenway Park Saturday afternoon, much more was at stake than an ACC victory. The two programs were also trying to overcome a disease that has affected both of their programs.
The ACC Atlantic division opponents played in the Sixth Annual ALS Awareness Game which benefits the Pete Frates #3 Fund. Frates is a former member of the Eagles baseball team which carries the nickname Birdball. He was diagnosed with the debilitating disease in 2012, and the Birdball program has rallied behind him to fight the disease.
Former NC State player Chris Combs threw out the first pitch, and he was diagnosed with ALS in 2016. Both teams wore “The Cure for Combs Hats” during the game.
After the emotional and uplifting pregame ceremonies honoring Frates and Combs had been complete, there was a game to be played.
The Eagles (13-22, 4-15 ACC) jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first. Freshman Jacob Yish put an exclamation in the inning driving in two runs on a single. The hit would knock Wolfpack Sean Adler from the game.
The game had extra special meaning for Yish having also played at St. Johns Prep, the same high school as Frates.
“We kept Pete with us as we went on in the first inning,” Yish said after the game. “We had a lot of energy in that first inning.”
Eagles starter Jacob Stevens kept NC State (20-18, 8-11 ACC) quite early with efficiency. Through four innings he threw 53 pitches 42 for strikes. However, the Wolfpack would get a run in the fifth and two in the sixth to cut the Birdball lead to 1.
Stevens, would pick up his fourth win of the year going 6.2 innings and allowed eight hits, three runs, and just one walk while striking out four.
After the game, Stevens touched on what it was like pitching in front of the energetic 3,603 fans in attendance at Fenway.
“It’s incredible it’s nice having the crowd behind you as players we feed off the crowd,” Stevens said after the game.
The crowd boosted the energy in the sixth when the Eagles plated four more runs taking advantage of Wolfpack miscues. Yish and Donovan Casey would each drive in a run, and Michael Strem would plate two to give the Birds the 8-3 advantage they wouldn’t relinquish.
The victory was the fourth for the Eagles in the ALS Awareness Game and third in a row. After the game, Boston College head coach Mike Gambino talked about the special night.
“ There was energy in the dugout, and the energy in the stands was unbelievable.” Gambino would continue, “The way this town has gotten behind Pete (Frates) is amazing.”
You can learn more about Pete Frates and Chris Combs at http://www.petefrates.com/ and https://teamchriscombs.org/. For more information on ALS visit the ALS Association at http://www.alsa.org/
The ACC Atlantic division opponents played in the Sixth Annual ALS Awareness Game which benefits the Pete Frates #3 Fund. Frates is a former member of the Eagles baseball team which carries the nickname Birdball. He was diagnosed with the debilitating disease in 2012, and the Birdball program has rallied behind him to fight the disease.
Former NC State player Chris Combs threw out the first pitch, and he was diagnosed with ALS in 2016. Both teams wore “The Cure for Combs Hats” during the game.
After the emotional and uplifting pregame ceremonies honoring Frates and Combs had been complete, there was a game to be played.
The Eagles (13-22, 4-15 ACC) jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first. Freshman Jacob Yish put an exclamation in the inning driving in two runs on a single. The hit would knock Wolfpack Sean Adler from the game.
The game had extra special meaning for Yish having also played at St. Johns Prep, the same high school as Frates.
“We kept Pete with us as we went on in the first inning,” Yish said after the game. “We had a lot of energy in that first inning.”
Eagles starter Jacob Stevens kept NC State (20-18, 8-11 ACC) quite early with efficiency. Through four innings he threw 53 pitches 42 for strikes. However, the Wolfpack would get a run in the fifth and two in the sixth to cut the Birdball lead to 1.
Stevens, would pick up his fourth win of the year going 6.2 innings and allowed eight hits, three runs, and just one walk while striking out four.
After the game, Stevens touched on what it was like pitching in front of the energetic 3,603 fans in attendance at Fenway.
“It’s incredible it’s nice having the crowd behind you as players we feed off the crowd,” Stevens said after the game.
The crowd boosted the energy in the sixth when the Eagles plated four more runs taking advantage of Wolfpack miscues. Yish and Donovan Casey would each drive in a run, and Michael Strem would plate two to give the Birds the 8-3 advantage they wouldn’t relinquish.
The victory was the fourth for the Eagles in the ALS Awareness Game and third in a row. After the game, Boston College head coach Mike Gambino talked about the special night.
“ There was energy in the dugout, and the energy in the stands was unbelievable.” Gambino would continue, “The way this town has gotten behind Pete (Frates) is amazing.”
You can learn more about Pete Frates and Chris Combs at http://www.petefrates.com/ and https://teamchriscombs.org/. For more information on ALS visit the ALS Association at http://www.alsa.org/