By Angie Ledbetter

The 5th Annual Strike Out Cancer Game hosted by the South Panola fastpitch team will be played on March 20 to benefit two-year-old Blake Sergi.

The Lady Tigers will team up with the Grenada Lady Chargers with the junior varsity game at 5 p.m. followed by the varsity at 6. Blake will throw out the first pitch of the varsity game. The game at Grenada will be played April 3.

Blake was diagnosed with retinoblastoma which is a rare cancerous tumor in the retina of the eye.

One or both eyes can be affected but in Blake’s case it was his left eye. The disease usually affects children under the age of six but is most commonly diagnosed in children one-to-two-years-old.
After consulting with his doctors, his parents, Pip and Allie Sergi of Batesville, were told there was a 50 percent chance for any type of treatment to work for Blake.

Also the tumor could spread to his brain, lungs and bones.

Blake’s left eye was removed on September 12, 2011 at St. Jude.

He received a prosthesis plastic eye November 2 and has to wear glasses that are made of polycarbonate lenses. After receiving his prostetic eye, Robert Thomas of Thomas Ocular Prosthetics handpainted him an eye.

“The whole process to fit the eye, paint it and coat it took about five hours but to actually paint, it took only about 20 minutes,” said Ali Sergi.

During all of Blake’s stays at St. Jude, his parents had to take off work from their full time jobs in addition to taking care of a second older child.

Even though St. Jude paid for everything related to the surgery, it was a hardship for Blake’s parents to take off work with hotel, food and other expenses.

As of now, Blake has to return to St. Jude every 14 weeks for checkups where he has to stay for three to four days. Ali will take off work to be with and take care of him.

No other surgeries are scheduled for him at this time as long as the cancer does not return and appear in his other eye.

“Even though St. Jude paid for everything it still got expensive,” Ali said. “I appreciate all the help and support we’ve gotten from our community. I feel so blessed to know the girls wanted to do this for Blake. That’s so sweet of them and I want them to know how much I appreciate it. I know there are others in this community that have cancer also.”

Blake met the team and coaches Monday during the scrimmage when he was given a new ball to keep so he could practice.

“He loves that ball and carries it around everywhere,” said Ali.

Blake’s grandparents are Shelia Brown, Brian and Jackie Sergi, all of Batesville and Frank and Carol Ross of Haines City, Fla. His great grandmother is June Griffin of Batesville. Jackie Sergi teaches English at South Panola High School.

The team is selling luminaries for $3 in memory of someone who has lost the battle to cancer or in honor of someone currently battling the disease or is a survivor. Also each player needs at least one sponsor for $25. “Batting for Blake” bracelets are $4 and t-shirts are $15. T-shirts must be pre-ordered. Contact any player or Coach Ashleigh Hicks at 662-609-8425 for more information or to order.

All proceeds from the gate, concession stand, luminaries, bracelets and t-shirts will go to Blake after expenses. Cash donations are also accepted.