The story of Scott Carrigan is perhaps more inspirational than anyone can do justice to. It's more than the story of a young boy who, like an underdog boxer, picked himself up off the canvas and continued fighting against insurmountable odds. It's more than the story of his courage; a courage unyielding though his body betrayed him. It's more than a story of a kid who wanted nothing more than to be a kid, and play baseball as he always had.

   Scott's story is about love. It's about a special way he touched everyone who knew him. His life was a special light beckoning us to follow the example of an 11 year old boy who lived for the day. His story hits you in the depths of your heart - the dark recesses you don't want open because it's there where your heart gets broken.

   But you could not help but open your heart to this little boy. Scott Carrigan was a winner from the start I first met him when he was 8 years old. I coached him in a baseball league for ages 6 through 8. He was my best player, hands down. The competition at that level was clearly not enough for Scott.

   Then Scott stepped up to Little League for ages 9 through 12. He wasn't quite the hitter he was in Mighty Mites, but he was as good of pitcher as there was in the League He hated to walk hitters, and as a result, he rarely did. He just kept getting better. 

   Then when he was 11   doctors told him he had Leukemia. About the only person who was not fazed was Scott. He never once cried about it, he never once complained about it. Cancer? Big Deal. Baseball season was coming, Scott was going to play.

   And he did. He wasn't as good, and he knew it He couldn't throw as hard, and he knew it. But he gave his all every time he stepped on that field, and you knew it. If you could've watched him then, you would've marveled.  

The cancer had robbed him of his strength but not his spirit.

Your problems were gone when you watched Scott Carrigan play baseball in the summer of 1981. What problems? - they weren't worth thinking about. 

Everything paled In comparison to the little boy who had the courage to go on Scott Carrigan wasn't dying, he was living---every moment he was on the baseball diamond And all of us who knew him then lived with him, through him He was so strong and so mature for one so young. It wasn't us who carried him through this unfair ordeal; it was he who carried us. Scott refused to be down on his luck. He didn't want our tears, and he didn't need them. He stall had some baseball left inside. 

I still can't figure out how Scott handled it. He was never bitter, never angry.

He was the same kid who used to come over to me in the dugout when he was 8 and tell me he hoped he would get another chance to hit this game, especially if they were losing. Nothing was different to him. And it's not because he didn't understand that he was going to die. He did. But he just went on being himself. And that was plenty good enough. 

That's why the baseball diamond at Clyatt Park is dedicated to Scott Carrigan. And every child who ever plays there should be dedicated to keeping his memory alive. Scott showed us how to live. Every moment is too precious; every breath is too sweet to worry about tomorrow.

Scott Carrigan found a wealth of courage somewhere in his cancer-ridden body. He probably never even knew it was there. But by the time he died, he had shown it to us all. 

Today, I am hoping that each of us will carry on the tradition of Scott Carrigan. Sometimes, when teams travel to tournaments to represent Scott Carrigan Field many strangers ask why we are called Scott Carrigan. Many answer by telling them a short story.... I tell them he is our leader!

Many thanks to Scott for demonstrating life in such a passionate way!