Watch: Four-year-old cancer patient hits home run

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (FOX 13) - A four-year-old cancer patient took to the baseball diamond with the professional players on Saturday, at the Air Force Academy Falcons’ home field in Colorado Springs.

The Academy and its opponent that day, the University of New Mexico Lobos, helped Lio Ortego hit a home run. Lio has a form of cancer called medulloblastoma. His father, Manny, played in junior college for New Mexico’s coach, Ray Birmingham, and the two have kept in touch.

Birmingham reached out to the Air Force Academy’s coach, Mike Kazlausky, who was happy to help. Kazlausky’s sister died five years ago from the same cancer that Lio is fighting. 

Not only did Lio hit the home run, he threw out the ceremonial first pitch, met with the Falcons mascot and received a signed ball from the Air Force team.