Ken West Softball Goes to Bat for ALS

Mike Pierce’s daughter, Cassidy, is a member of the Lady Blue Devils softball team, and has seen firsthand the devastating toll ALS takes on an individual, and their loved ones. ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. There is no cure for ALS yet. Each time the Lady Blue Devils cross home plate on their home field this season will be a score in bringing awareness to the importance of continued research of treatments and finding a cure. Your pledge per run scored will contribute to providing those with ALS continued personal and family support and a quality of life as best as possible.

Before his passing, Mike shared his emotions by writing “ALS cannot be properly described to anyone that has not seen its devastation first hand. I will describe my own personal experience and attempt to show how cruel and unforgiving it truly is both mentally and physically. The physical challenges are difficult but the mental issues seem endless and unrelenting. ALS is a cruel thief. It steals things from life and sometimes does it slowly to make sure it hurts and at other times, it takes it immediately. There is no rhyme or reason to it. It cannot be defeated. I’m fighting with no chance of victory.”

This campaign is very personal for the Lady Blue Devils and countless other members of our close-knit community in Ken-Ton. Mike Pierce spent 17 consecutive summers coaching his children, and many others, in baseball and softball. His physical health started to deteriorate, and he contemplated not coaching Cassidy in her final House softball season. But with the support of the players’ families and assistant coaches, Mike persevered through the season. “I bought a glove for my opposite hand and had to catch and throw with the same hand. It was difficult to say the least but I wasn’t going to allow that final season to be stolen from me. I did this because I had to overcome my vanity and realize I had a lot to still offer. I wanted to teach my girls a life lesson about determination and gratitude for life. We had the greatest season and I am forever grateful for not allowing fear to stop me from doing something I love.”

The Lady Blue Devils will open up their season playing at home on Thursday, May 13, 2021. As they take the field, they will fight for a victory for ALS in honor of Mike Pierce. Thank you for supporting our campaign and going to bat with us for ALS!