Former major leaguer teams with Legion Baseball to strike out cancer
Photo by Terrie Rolwes

Former major leaguer teams with Legion Baseball to strike out cancer

The sixth-annual Baseball BATtles Cancer American Legion Baseball tournament raised $14,500 last week, bringing the total funds raised by the organization since 2013 to nearly $50,000.

The eight-team tournament, hosted by Ballwin (Mo.) American Legion Post 611 at the Ballwin Athletic Association, features teams from Missouri and Illinois.

Funds generated by Baseball BATtles Cancer go to the Jason Motte Foundation, which boasts the aims “to provide comfort and care where there is a need for those affected, either directly or indirectly, by cancers of all kinds.”

Motte, who played three years of American Legion Baseball for Judson P. Galloway Post 152 in Newburgh, N.Y., had a lengthy Major League Baseball career. He led the National League in saves in 2012, and recorded the last out of both the 2011 National League Championship Series and 2011 World Series for the Cardinals.

“It’s all about helping people, helping others," Jason Motte told local television station KSKD.

Baseball BATtles Cancer was founded by Elizabeth Arway and her husband, PJ, who played and coached Legion Baseball for two decades. The organization partnered with the Jason Motte Foundation in 2015 to increase awareness of a similar mission.

“We are truly honored that Baseball BATtles Cancer chose to partner with us,” Caitlin Motte said. “We think everything that they are doing from creating awareness, providing support to those battling cancer, and educating the young (American) Legion players is remarkable and we are honored to be a part of it.”

For more information, visit www.baseballbattlescancer.com.