I grew up with baseball. My brothers and cousins played Little League and Babe Ruth together on the same teams.

This is how I learned the game of baseball and came to know Frank Jagoda. As fate would have it, he was on the same teams in both leagues as well.

There was never a time I wasn’t watching a game. I watched Babe Ruth games until I didn’t know anyone playing in the league. I was also a freshman in high school watching the high school varsity team. I knew some players, but this team was all upperclassmen with Frank playing his last year of high school ball.

Fast forward 40 years. I hadn’t seen a local baseball game in that many years. It was April 2022 and I read in the newspaper if the Dunkirk Varsity Boys Baseball Team wins today, Coach Jagoda will break Coach Al Stuhlmiller’s record for most games won. I decided to attend the game to witness this once in a lifetime event. That’s all it took, one game and the bug bit me. I was addicted to the game and went to the rest of every home game that year.

I couldn’t wait for the 2023 season to begin. Not only did I want to watch the guys play, I needed a distraction. Earlier in the year I had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and all I wanted was baseball.

One day I had a huge surprise at my house. The team stopped over at my house with all kinds of gifts to lift my spirits. As they introduced themselves, they hugged me. Yes,these high school boys made me cry and made my day.

Baseball season 2024 came. I was very excited for the games to start, even though I was bald now from chemotherapy. Those guys again gifted me with a Marauder Baseball tee-shirt, hoodie, and baseball hat.

Here it is, the end of the 2025 season. I live for these baseball games and the season goes by so fast. Every year I feel closer and closer to this team. I always tell people it’s my team, my guys. I attempt to learn all of their names. It was a lot easier before I had chemo.

This year the team gave me a signed baseball. To me, that is worth more than any amount of money. They also gave me a jersey shirt stating Number 1 Fan.

I don’t think these guys realize how much their acts have meant to me these past few years. You guys have been a great group of ball players to cheer for over the past four years. You have always shown great sportsmanship and that says a lot. I don’t know what I am going to do until season 2026.

Always remember I love you guys, My Team, My Guys.

Susan Lis is a Dunkirk resident.