Coach, Young Students Find Hope In Form Of Bronx Softball Team
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork)-- On a field just a stone's throw from Yankee Stadium the "Lady Tigers" prove they are tough and proud with a leader they count on in good times and bad.
Christopher Astacio, 37, joined M.S. 22 in the South Bronx as a physical education teacher and saw too many disadvantaged and at risk kids in need of something to focus their energies and give them hope.
"My girls live a tough and hard life," Astacio told CBS2's Dave Carlin.
Three years ago, he put together the Lady Tigers and members of the team say it changed their lives.
"I was lonely, now have a team. I feel better, I feel confident about myself," team player Yoshie Mariy said.
"Before this team I was out on the streets in the park and things like that, but softball has help me believe in myself," another player Grateshka Herrera said.
"I had to teach them how to value themselves first and value each other and I didn't want to build a team anymore, I wanted to build a family," Astacio said.
But just as the team grew stronger, cancer threw the coach a curve-ball.
"Why, why do I have cancer now?" he said.
Sidelined by the cancerous mass in his stomach, his players kept practicing and kept his hopes up.
"Sending me their prayers, sending me texts I knew I had to be there for them and I kind of willed myself back to health," Astacio said.
"I had to not cry for him because I know he's going to feel weak, but when I'm with him supporting make him laugh," team player Janai Banks said.
He said after treatment and a diet change doctors told him he is cancer-free.... and more good news followed.
A softball team from Chicago invited the Lady Tigers to the Windy City and the Lady Tigers said "Yes!"
"You ladies are great and you're going to be great in Chicago," Astacio said.
When teammates face the Chicago Fireworks it will be their first time playing in a professional arena.
Their hosts found them hotel accommodations and the team will travel by bus for the three-day trip in late April and the double header at Chicago's Bandits Stadium. A GoFundMe effort to raise $12,000 is just $3,000 shy of that total. But they know they will get the money.
"We believe in ourselves and we stick together no matter what and we've got this!" Janai said.
The teammates say they are now sisters with a lifelong plan to prove, along with this coach they love, that hard work pays off.
