LOUISVILLE, Ky. — NFCA members delivered in the fight against cancer, raising $467,333 in support of the Association and its StrikeOut Cancer initiative in 2025-26, bringing its eight-year total to $2.8 million.
The University of Michigan topped all fundraisers with $221,000 raised for the American Cancer Society in conjunction with its 17th annual Michigan Softball Academy. It featured a two-hour instructional clinic where participants learn hitting, throwing, pitching, fielding, and base-running directly from Wolverine softball players and coaches, followed by a social mixer and silent auction.
Glory Fastpitch founder and NFCA Hall of Famer Suzy Willemssen hosted the program’s annual StrikeOut Cancer Camp in 2026. It’s now eight years running that Glory Fastpitch has topped all travel ball and youth organizations with $68,000 in 2026 All net proceeds from the event go to Children’s National Hospital DC and will directly help children in their fight to survive cancer. Willemssen was recently honored for her efforts by the NFCA with its annual Humanitarian award.
Virginia Wesleyan’s (now Batten University) 16th annual StrikeOut Cancer fundraiser, spearheaded by head coach Brandon Elliott, was NCAA Division III’s leader for the 10th time. Held in conjunction with its doubleheader against Averett University, it raised $58,025 in memory of Elliott’s late mother Elaine Sears with all proceeds going to the American Cancer Society. This year’s fundraiser, which also honored program assistant coach Jenna Wilson, featured a five-dollar admission and provided fun for the whole family with food, fun, bounce houses, face painting, music, a basket/silent auction, and home run derby/pink-out game festivities. Since 2009, VWU has raised nearly $400,000 for the American Cancer Society.
Saint Thomas Aquinas High School (Kan.) and Howard Community College hit the five-figure fundraising mark and led their respective categories again. Hosting its 11th annual Pink Out Game, Saint Thomas Aquinas raised funds for Kate Maese, who was diagnosed with Stage 4 colorectal cancer in 2024, and her family.
The Dragons hosted a fundraiser dedicated in honor of Angela Rose Dal Molin, a close friend of the HCC athletics staff, who passed away after a battle with stage-four breast cancer. The proceeds raised were in support of Dal Molin’s son Isaiah’s future and education. Since the inception of its strikeout cancer game, HCC has raised over $100,000.
Division II’s Drury University raised $3.371 for the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks. The Panthers wore pink jerseys, which were auctioned off after their doubleheader against UIndy, who also donned pink uniforms. Additionally, a local breast cancer survivor threw out the first pitch.
Tabor College from the NAIA raised $1,100 and honored a player’s mother, who is battling cancer. Recently finishing chemotherapy treatments, she threw out the first pitch before their StrikeOut Cancer game. It was a team effort as coaches and players helped her travel to and from treatments.
Numerous other schools either raised money or awareness to battle cancer by hosting a single event or by coordinating a season-long campaign. The schools that registered with the NFCA were entitled to a special package of StrikeOut Cancer items, which included NFCA StrikeOut Cancer helmet stickers, tattoos, wristbands and more.
The top fundraisers receive Louisville Slugger bats with the color tailored to their specific cancer fundraiser. The bats were generously donated by Slugger’s parent company, Wilson Sporting Goods, Inc., an NFCA Official Sponsor
Top Fundraisers (Head Coach)
NCAA Division I - University of Michigan (Bonnie Tholl)
NCAA Division II - Drury University (Brooke Gajewski)
NCAA Division III - Batten University (Brandon Elliott)
NAIA – Tabor College (Jeff Brewer)
Junior College - Howard Community College (Shannon Riley)
High School - Saint Thomas Aquinas (Keith Hughes)
Travel Ball/Youth - VA Glory (Suzy Willemssen)
The NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its extensive awards and scholarships program, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels: from NFCA podcasts to a comprehensive drills database, to in-person events and a National Convention.
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