PRAIRIE GROVE — I can do all things through Christ Jesus which strengthens me. -- Philippians 4:13
Joey Sorters needed an infusion of inner strength just to be able to throw the ceremonial first-pitch as the Jarren Sorters Memorial Baseball Tournament got underway March 21.
People, who know Joey Sorters, Prairie Grove assistant high school principal, as a former baseball player wondered why the throw seemed off, but what they could not see was underneath the sunglasses tears were welling up. He could barely see to make the throw. This was another one of those moments Joey Sorters has become accustomed to, when he had to reach down deep inside and depend on his Christian faith to bring him through.
Jarren Sorters, son of Joey and Donna Sorters, would have been a sophomore this year at Prairie Grove.
Much of the Sorters' family journey has been publicized from Jarren's initial August 13, 2015, diagnosis of Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma with CIC DUX 4, an extremely rare but aggressive form of Sarcoma; through amputation of Jarren's left leg two months later, cancer treatment and radiation therapy, learning to walk on a prosthetic device, to a devastating diagnosis of the spread of cancer to his lungs, and his death on Aug. 11, 2016 -- one month short of his 16th birthday.
Throughout the journey, Donna Sorters faithfully maintained an ongoing blog called Pray4Jarren, updating the countless numbers of concerned family, friends, community members, prayer-intercessors, sports fans and many others as the situation crossed over various demographics. Support was drawn from other communities linked by shared athletic competition through rivalries and among the 4A-1 Conference.
The Farmington Cardinals (5A West), plus Prairie Grove's conference brethren, Gentry Pioneers, Gravette Lions, Huntsville Eagles, Pea Ridge Blackhawks and Lincoln Wolves, are numbered among various sports teams and communities participating in fundraisers and showing support.
Charity Ruley, a close friend of the family, experienced a similar feeling while delivering a speech to kick off the tournament Tuesday morning.
"He (Jarren Sorters) was a special kid," Charity Ruley said. "I had him in fourth grade as a teacher. He played for Ulysses (her husband Ulysses Ruley is head junior high basketball coach at Prairie Grove). He was Ulysses' starting point guard. I got nominated to make a speech."
Charity Ruley was doing a tremendous service in vocalizing what neither of Jarren's parents, Joey and Donna Sorters, could accomplish without breaking into tears as she welcomed the Bentonville West Wolverines (7A West), Booneville Bearcats (4A-4), Gentry Pioneers (4A-1), Ozark Hillbillies (4A-4), Pea Ridge Blackhawks (4A-1) and Prairie Grove Tigers (4A-1) along with their coaches, parents and fans.
Gentry baseball coach Justin Ledbetter had his team in the tournament, saying they not only benefit from playing baseball during spring break but also through their participation in the tournament, which is a fundraiser for the Play4Jarren Foundation.
"We teach our kids to be ambassadors of Gentry," Ledbetter said. "That means, not only putting the uniform on with the name of Gentry on it, but also it means doing things the right way. It means acting the right way whether it's in the classroom or on the field, showing respect to teachers and coaches."
"Things like this (the Jarren Sorters Memorial Baseball Tournament) are a way to show sportsmanship to another conference opponent that's been through some hard times, to show them support for our rivals."
According to its mission statement, Play4Jarren is a Christian-based nonprofit organization established to preserve and honor the legacy of Jarren Sorters. It serves to provide community outreach and support for youth who face physical and medical adversities. Play4Jarren has two specific areas of focus, childhood cancer awareness and research, and youth development through athletics.
Play4Jarren also supports educational endeavors of young people through a scholarship program. The foundation seeks to award college scholarships in memory of Jarren to individuals who demonstrate characteristics of compassion, determination, perseverance and love for life. For more information, visit Play4Jarren.org.
Sports on 03/29/2017