'Swing for the Cure' supports local player battling cancer - Toledo News Now, News, Weather, Sports, Toledo, OH

On February 3^rd, 18-year-old Kayleen Jurski's life changed forever. 

"I was at the Cleveland clinic and they basically told me it was cancer," said Jurski. "They really didn't say anything more than it was cancer." 

It was a rare form of lung cancer. In fact, there are only 24 other known cases. It was curable, but Jurski's high school softball career was over. 

"I was in the hospital for five days," recalls Jurski.  "That was kind of tough because I couldn't get what I wanted for myself. I had to go through some else to do that."

Her story rocked the local softball community to its core. Her Yellow Jackets were hurting, but so were their opponents.

"In the NLL, there is a lot of good rivalries but there is also a lot of camaraderie, not only with the coaches but with the players," said Southview head coach Jim Zoltowski.

Southview players in particular were affected by the news. For the past two years the Cougars have hosted "Swing for the Cure," a charity game played with proceeds benefiting cancer research. This year they wanted all those proceeds to go to Kayleen and her family.

"There are a lot of girls here that not only play against each other in high school but they've grown up together and played on the same team. It was their decision to do it and dedicate it to her," said Zoltowski.

The teams wore special t-shirts before the game. There was a short pregame ceremony highlighted by a Jurski first pitch-right down the middle as always.

Said the long time pitcher, "It felt good to get back out there and hold it in my hand again."

For Kayleen, it felt like old times. It felt like an game ordinary night. It was exactly the kind of night she'll never forget.