COLONIE — Shaker surrendered its second to last home game of the 2023 Suburban Council baseball season in favor of playing a night contest at a neutral site. The Blue Bison desperately need a victory. The same thing goes for Christian Brothers Academy, Shaker’s opponent. All of the people surrounding Wednesday evening’s game being held at Plumeri Sports Complex are counting on wins going all around.
Only one team can win Wednesday at Bob Bellizzi Field. Victories come in many other forms, such as a Coaches vs. Cancer contest being conducted in honor of CBA coach Casey O’Connor, a former player, assistant coach and head coach for the College of Saint Rose baseball program. O’Connor was diagnosed with rectal cancer in February.
O’Connor was afraid he would be unable to coach the Brothers this season. He took over the program in 2011 and guided CBA to the Section II Class AA championship in 2021. Before coaching the Brothers, O’Connor led Saint Rose where he succeeded his mentor Bob Bellizzi, who died from leukemia in 2006.
“I’ve got to tell you I have been a lot better than what I thought I was going to be,” O’Connor said. “When I started off the season by bringing my returners in, I said it is going to be a different year. I am not going to be around. I moved coach (Michael) Bellizzi up to the varsity team because I didn’t think I was going to be around. I have done four chemo treatments here. I have my good days and I have my bad days, but more good days than bad days. It hasn’t been bad. I have missed very little work and missed no baseball. Knock on wood, I haven’t even missed a practice.
“I have been lucky. I get really tired at the end of the day. During the day, I am moving.”
The Brothers are moving in a positive manner as well after opening the season with three losses in their first four games. Monday, CBA defeated Troy 22-6 to maintain its…
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