A prayer, then action: Metro baseball team rallies around umpire battling cancer

It started with a game—and a prayer.

Mount St. Mary’s seniors were mid-season, focused on baseball, when they began to hear the story of the man behind the plate. Corey Green, their umpire, was fighting stage 4 colon cancer. His attitude was upbeat. His love for the game is unwavering.

“I had no idea I was going to ring the bell today,” Green said after completing his fifth round of radiation.

He’s been an umpire for more than 20 years. Even now, as medical bills pile up, he refuses to step away from the field.

“I enjoy being around the kids,” he said. “They keep you young.”

For the team, learning about Green’s diagnosis hit hard. They prayed for his peace, but realized they wanted to be part of the answer.

“Sometimes it’s God telling you need to get out there and help,” said senior Ryder Blankenship. “If we can help in any way, that would be ideal.”

The team launched a GoFundMe. They didn’t expect the response, but donations began to pour in quickly.

“We were surprised by how well it’s done,” said senior Michael Lynch. “We didn’t know where it was going to take us.”

Faith is what guides them, just as it is for Green. And while this started with baseball, the players say they’ve gained something much more: a friendship that’s lasting well beyond the game.

The team plans to present him with the money they’ve raised during their Senior Night game next Friday at 5 p.m.