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Scott Bandoni practices his pitching with his father on Wednesday afternoon at his Lodi home. Bandoni, a Millswood seventh grader with cerebral palsy, will be throwing the first pitch at the Sacramento River Cats game tonight. (Brian Feulner/News-Sentinel)
Lodi's Scott Bandoni remains positive despite battling cerebral palsy, and now he's throwing out a pitch of inspiration
Scott Bandoni's favorite position is shortstop, but tonight he will be standing on the pitcher's mound at Raley Field.
The 14-year-old Millswood Middle School student will be throwing out the first pitch before the Sacramento River Cats host the Las Vegas 51s at 7:05 p.m.
It will be a big moment in Bandoni's life, especially considering a month ago he was recovering from surgery — just the latest battle in the daily war he fights against cerebral palsy.
Bandoni loves baseball and plays for the Tigers in Stockton's Challenger Little League — a league for baseball players with physical and mental challenges. On Friday, he'll see the game he loves up close and personal on a larger stage — a 14,000-plus capacity stadium before a professional game.
"I was a little nervous at first, but then I got real excited about it," Bandoni said about throwing the first pitch. "I'm sure I'll be nervous when I get out there on that big field."
For nine years Bandoni has gone to Shriners Hospital in Sacramento, where he's had surgery and done therapy to help his mobility. As a patient who stands out for his positive attitude and likability, Bandoni was the perfect candidate to throw out the first pitch of the annual Ben Ali Shrine Night with the River Cats.
"He is a great kid," said Catherine Curran, a public relations official with Shriners Hospital. "Everybody loves him."
Bandoni, who will also graduate from seventh grade today, leads a very active life. Between playing baseball, jamming on the guitar or drums, skiing in the winter and jet skiing in the summer, working toward his star Boy Scout rank, going to school and relentlessly cheering on his favorite team in the Sacramento Kings, Bandoni is also busy with physical therapy.
He's grown two inches in the last eight months, but his muscles can't keep up with his body. His lower extremities are very spastic and they get very stiff. Frequent exercise and a continual feed of muscle relaxers to his legs serve as treatments for his currently incurable disease.
"He has got a pretty good heart. He is very positive," said Scott's mother Shelley. "He doesn't complain through the whole thing."
Bandoni has exercise machines at his home to help him with his daily physical therapy, but he prefers to get outside and exercise with his father, Steve.
"I know that I have to exercise to get stronger," Bandoni said. "I like to exercise more on our tandem bicycle with my dad than being indoors."
Bandoni also loves to play baseball with his team, which along with his Boy Scout troop as well as friends and family will be at Raley Field to watch him toss the first pitch.
Bandoni's been playing baseball since he was 6 years old and enjoys every aspect of it.
"I like the whole part of the game, especially getting up to bat," he said. "My coach teases me about never getting my white pants dirty so he always throws a little dirt on me as I come in to home base."
He found out pretty recently he would be taking the mound before the River Cats' game and has been preparing. He's even been practicing his pitching in his physical education class at Millswood.
Bandoni struggled a bit after his most recent surgery, but with determination and hard work, he's now ready to take the mound at Raley Field.
"After my surgery it took a little while, but I'm feeling awesome right now," he said.
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jbhiker wrote on May 29, 2009 8:00 AM:
Half Full wrote on May 29, 2009 7:24 AM:
Scotty, have a great time tonight! "
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