Auburn outfielder Cade Belyeu faced a heartbreaking loss as his mother Staci passed away from cancer. Despite the tragedy, Belyeu made a courageous decision to honor his mother by playing in a game against Holy Cross, informing his coach, Butch Thompson, of his intentions.
With uncertainty looming over whether Belyeu would take the field, Thompson reached out to the player’s father for guidance. Roger Belyeu expressed that his wife would have wanted their son to play, prompting Cade to step up to the plate.
On the field, Belyeu delivered a memorable performance in front of a packed crowd at Plainsman Park. He started strong with a single and later stunned the audience with a solo home run, propelling the Tigers to a 3-1 lead.
Thompson commended Belyeu’s resilience, stating, “The crowd’s reaction and support were truly inspiring. Cade’s home run symbolized his tribute to his mother, highlighting the profound impact of this poignant moment that transcends the game of baseball.”
Following his remarkable feat, Belyeu’s home run ball was retrieved by a young fan and returned to the team. Thompson presented the sentimental keepsake to Belyeu, marking a touching conclusion to the Tigers’ victorious game.
Reflecting on the emotional evening, junior second baseman Eric Snow expressed, “That was literally the best thing I’ve ever seen in baseball,” capturing the sentiment of unity and strength displayed by Belyeu and his teammates.