Kansas City Royals reach out to Skylar Hill

The cancer fight from Barton Community College baseball player Skylar Hill continues as does the support from various sources from around the country.  The latest show of support came from the Kansas City Royals baseball organization.  Giving the young man from Little River, Kansas, hope and something to look forward to through weeks of chemotherapy, Hill was a guest of honor for the May 25 Royals game against the Los Angeles Angels at Kauffman Stadium.

"Mitch (Webster) is a good friend of mine and former coach at Barton," Barton baseball head coach Mike Warren said. "Once he heard about Skylar he has reached out to him wanting to do what he can for Skylar."

Webster, a Larned native and a retired major league baseball player after thirteen seasons, is now the Midwest Regional Scouting Supervisor for the Royals.  Wanting to do something for Hill, Webster spoke with Royals General Manager Dayton Moore.  

A Wichita native and former player for Garden City Community College, Moore played against Coach Warren's Cougars in the 1986 and 1987 seasons.  Immediately starting a plan in motion, Moore spoke to his secretary to contact Coach Warren and Hill.

"Within moments of Mitch talking to Dayton, Dayton's secretary Emily Penning contacted us to set something up," said Warren.

Hill, Coach Warren, and Hill's close friends and supporters Jason Schafer and son Cody, experienced VIP treatment with the Royals.  Arriving in Kansas City on Friday, the group attended the evening's game with the main activities awaiting their presence on Saturday.

"From parking right close to the stadium to immediately being greeted by the director of the Royals player development," Warren explained of the trip. "We were treated with open arms from everyone we encountered."

Touring the Royals facilities including the clubhouse it was the video room providing the first of the day's biggest surprises.  

"As we are touring the video room we notice Jeremy Guthrie watching film in preparation of the day's game," Warren spoke.  "Jeremy stops what's he doing and comes introduces himself to Skylar.  They spend a few minutes talking and after he leaves, I find out it's highly unlikely for the day's starting pitcher will speak to anyone because they are usually in game-day mode and highly focused.  Overall it was a really nice thing of Jeremy and great way to start the experience."

Moving out to the field where the Royals position players were stretching and warming up, many of the Royals players came up to meet Hill and wish him well.  

"Billy Butler was one of the first to notice Skylar and greeted him," explained an ever increasing excited Warren. "In addition to Butler and many other Royals players and personnel, some of the more well-known guys like Alex Gordon, Mike Moustakas, and Eric Hosmer all spent time with Skylar.  Next thing I know we're in the midst of getting our picture taken with these guys.  Overall it was really cool these big league players took the time to spend with Skylar."

A special personalized tour through the Royals Hall of Fame provided by the Hall's Director preceded the group's fan experience of lunch and watching the game from prime Dugout Box seats.  

"Around the sixth inning, these big bags filled with Royals merchandise is delivered to our seats," said Warren.  "It was a total surprise and a nice gesture of items to complete our fan experience."

Even though the Royals lost the game 7-0, Warren described the experience as a win in the game of life."As we're leaving and I asked Skylar his thoughts and he said it was the greatest experience he'll ever have in his life.  I can't thank Emily (Penning), Mitch (Webster), Dayton (Moore) and all of the Kansas City Royals enough.  Their generosity, encouraging words, and heartfelt concern for Skylar were what he needed to lift his spirits and renew his confidence in striking out cancer."

Diagnosed with cancer in mid-April, Hill has undergone three weeks of chemotherapy with one remaining.  A two-year starting pitcher for the Cougars, Hill pitched his last game for Barton April 6 at MCC-Longview.   Hill will continue his academic and hopeful athletic career next fall at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, Missouri, as the Lions will honor Hill's baseball scholarship signed last fall.

"Even with a positive prognosis, the process of undergoing chemo is taking a toll on him," Warren spoke about Hill.  "He's a tough kid who will no doubt defeat cancer.  Having Mitch, Dayton, and the Kansas City Royals do this for him is pretty special.  It gives him hope, something to look forward to after days of treatment, and has given him a network of people that has either gone through treatments or simply there to give him support."

For those wanting to support Hill or have questions, please contact Barton Baseball Head Coach Mike Warren at (620) 792-9373 or Darnell Holopirek (620) 792-9367.  Additional information, including online donation form, can be found online