By paNOW

Ball diamond named in honour of Zach Cook

Jun 11, 2017 | 2:15 PM

Kind, strong, positive, a great sense of humour and one who never gave up.

This is how Zach Cook’s parents described their son whose memory will live on as a ball diamond at Lakeland Ford Park has been named in his honour.

“Everything was all about ball in our house,” his mother Donna said.

This passion for sports helped Zach cope as he grappled with cancer before his passing on March 13. He was diagnosed with desmoplastic small-round-cell-tumour (DSRCT), the first in the province. It is an extremely rare disease with only about 500 cases around the world. 

Zach was 19 when he was diagnosed with the illness. The prognosis came with a 25 per cent chance to live for three years. But right from the start, he chose to remain strong, positive, focused and fight through it, his parents said. He did this for the 21 months he battled cancer, despite forced to undergo multiple major surgeries and intensive chemotherapy.

Battle ready

Predators set to defend title as new PGLL season approaches

9m ago

Meadow Lake arena and recreation facility

Innovation Federal Credit Union donates up to $1-million in community match

57m ago

Riderville

Riders Have Options Heading into Tuesday CFL Draft

5h ago

“That’s what Zach was living with. Imagine going to bed every night with that thought so the first thing you think in the morning is ‘how many more days do I have,’” his father Jim said.

Even as he underwent this time in his life, all the young man wanted to do was play ball and never let his cancer get in the way.

“We know so many people will come and see this, look up Zach and look up the cancer he had and that brings awareness and bring with it honour,” Donna added. “We are super happy and proud that we are able to help make this happen.”

Zach’s parents said he “loved sports and loved playing” them, particularly baseball and football. His favourite teams were the New York Yankees and the Seattle Seahawks. 

They told stories of how, soon after his chemotherapy treatments in Saskatoon, he would beg his parents to race him back to Prince Albert so he could make the games.

“He didn’t curl up in a ball in his room. He didn’t get mad. He didn’t blame anyone,” Jim added, saying all Zach asked of his family was they continue to raise awareness about the disease. “You would never have guessed that he was sick. He never complained. He never had any self-pity.”

Zach was a member of the Swamp Donkey’s and the Nitros. And despite his battle, was always out on the field when his body allowed. His teammates, and even those competing against him, were always by his side according to Swamp Donkey’s manager Brett Honish.

“It was just incredible the fight that that kid had. He was such a young kid and it just was unbelievable to see,” he said. The team worked to keep Zach out on the field as much as possible. They did things such as grant him a courtesy runner, though he rarely took it.

Honish was shocked when he heard the news this spring about Zach’s passing. But as soon as he learned of the interest in naming the diamond in honour of Zach, Honish did everything he could to make sure it came true. 

“Everybody knows now who Zach is. Just to play on this field is an honour for any team. He will always be with us,” Honish said as he pointed to the field and the crest on his jersey.

tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr