PITTSBURG, Kan. -- Melanoma awareness is a very important cause to the Pittsburg State softball team and with the help of Via Christi and Promo Depot, the Gorillas will show their support for that cause in their doubleheader against Lincoln on April 20 beginning at noon.
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United State. More than two million people are diagnosed annually. Melanoma is just one type of skin cancer, but is the second-most common for people aged 15-29. 86 percent of melanomas and 90 percent of nonmelanoma skin cancers can be attributed to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. The good news is there is a 98 percent survival rate if it is detected early
Via Christi will be set up at the PSU Softball Complex with giveaways and information on the prevention and detection of skin cancer. There will be scans available, as well as free sunscreen.
Promo Depot, a full-service promotional product supplier, has provided limited edition skin cancer awareness uniforms for the Gorillas to wear. The uniforms are being modeled by the freshmen softball players in the ad promoting the game and picture accompanying this story.
Lincoln is 12th in the MIAA with a 13-16-1 overall record and a 5-11 mark in MIAA play. After struggling through an eight-game losing streak, the Blue Tigers have won three of their last four games, including a split with Central Missouri in their last outing on Sunday. Lincoln is hitting .262 as a team with a .395 slugging percentage and .320 on base percentage. The pitching staff has a 3.96 ERA and allows opponents a .303 batting average.
The Gorillas are in ninth place in the league standings with a 22-20 overall record and a 10-12 conference record. The Gorillas hit .285 as a team with a .443 slugging percentage and a .370 on base percentage. The Gorilla pitchers have a 3.36 ERA and allow opponents only a .257 batting average.
Pitt State is led offensively by several players. Tiffany Brown leads in batting average (.346), on base percentage (.429) and doubles (10). Kreslee Ketcham has a .336 average and leads in home runs (10) and slugging percentage (.604). Katelyn Birchfield is the team's RBI leader with 35, Brenna George leads in steals (19) and runs scored (38) and Jordan Bradshaw leads in walks (26).
The Pitt State pitching staff is anchored by Kyndel Shelburn with a 2.48 ERA, .198 opponent batting average and an 8-8 record with two saves and three shut outs. in 121. 1 innings, she has struck out 132 batters. Kylie Harpst, Samantha Grove and Haleigh Sill have all seen almost equal action. Harpst has a 4-3 record and a 3.02 ERA in 55.2 innings. Grove has a 3.73 ERA and a 5-3 record with one save in 41.1 innings. Sills and a 4-5 record and a 4.93 ERA in 59.2 innings.
