Auburn centerfielder Cade Belyeu on Friday reminded fans why it’s hard not to be romantic about baseball.
On Friday morning, Belyeu was dealt the devastating news that his mother, Staci Belyeu, had died after a lengthy battle with cancer. That same night, Cade still suited up for Auburn’s season opener against Holy Cross at Plainsman Park in Auburn, Ala.
An emotional Belyeu hit a single in his first at-bat of the year. He topped it a few innings later. Facing an 0-1 count with the bases empty in the bottom of the 6th inning, Belyeu blasted an 86-mph off-speed pitch into the deep right-centerfield seats. Belyeu pointed to the stands and stuck his tongue out as he trotted around the bases.
Belyeu’s home run was the Tigers’ first of the season and gave Auburn a 3-1 lead.
Before the game, Auburn head coach Butch Thompson was admittedly unsure about letting Cade play. But when the youngster gave his coach the news of Staci’s death on Friday morning, Cade was adamaned about taking the field at his mom’s request.
Still undecided, Thompson later asked Cade’s father, Roger Belyeu, about the dilemma. Roger backed his son.
“[Roger] said Staci wanted him to play,” Thompson told reporters postgame, via Adam Cole of the Montgomery Advertiser. “I think it was the most inspiring thing we’ve ever seen. Our crowd is just amazing. They absolutely sensed and knew what was going on with him. … An inspiration by Cade Belyeu.”
Cade Belyeu went 2-for-4 at the plate, leading Auburn to a 4-1 victory to start their season.
