GAINESVILLE -- Gainesville Middle Schooler Eli Ligon got to live out two dreams Monday afternoon.
An admittedly huge Alabama fan, Ligon got to throw out the first pitch of Gainesville's meeting with Loganville at Ivey-Watson Field. On the receiving end was former Gainesville High standout and former Alabama quarterback Blake Sims as part of "An Evening for Eli”.
Ligon, a seventh grader, was diagnosed earlier this month with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, a cancer in the nasal cavity and neck. He is currently undergoing chemo and radiation treatments at Children’s Healthcare at Egleston. Ligon loves baseball and golf and is a member of the GMS golf team. Ligon, his parents Rusty and Carol Ann, and sister Emily are all big fans and supporters of the Gainesville baseball program.
Gainesville coach Jeremy Kemp and the members of the GHS baseball team put together the event to help raise money for Ligon's treatment.
"He is such a great kid and we wanted to help in some way," Kemp said. "He is a huge Alabama fan and loves Blake Sims so we tried to put the two together and we were able to do that."
Ligon threw a strike on the outside corner of the plate.
"Blake was a little nervous because he did not want to miss it or drop it but Eli made a good pitch. It was a lot of fun for us to see Eli get to enjoy that," Kemp said.
Kemp said the Gainesville baseball team will continue its #pray4eli campaign through the rest of the season. For those wanting to donate they can stop by any United Community Bank branch and make a donation.
