Softball players gather to aid Cranberry man diagnosed with throat cancer
CRANBERRY TWP — Stormy weather pushed Friday’s kickoff party inside, but Saturday Cranberry CUP members were determined to get its opening ceremony and annual softball tournament started at Cranberry Park.
Anthony Bertolino, president of Cranberry Community Uniting People (CUP), said Friday’s golf tournament at Cranberry Highlands drew 152 golfers who managed to get their games in even though rain forced the after party inside.
The golf tournament was followed Saturday by the beginning of the two-day softball tournament that attracted 500 registered players on 34 teams in two divisions. Games were scheduled for Cranberry Graham and North Boundary parks in the township.
The golfers, softball players and Sunday’s cornhole participants were raising money to help an “inspirational family” in need.
“Our organization helps families in the Cranberry area with financial needs brought on by hardships in their lives, usually caused by illness,” Bertolino said. “We help five families, but this year’s ‘inspirational family’ is the Mike Schultz family. He was diagnosed with throat cancer.
“Typically, our weekend will bring in $100,000 through sponsorships, participation fees, raffle ticket sales and donations,” said Bertolino.
During opening ceremonies Saturday, Shultz and his family arrived on a fire truck to cheers from the crowd gathered in the stands.
Mike, his wife Becky, and their children and grandchildren thanked Cranberry CUP for its support.
“I just want to say thank you for the love, support and prayers,” said Becky Schultz. “I really appreciate it. Cranberry CUP has been a godsend to us.”
Schultz was diagnosed with throat and tonsil cancer in 2020. He received his last rounds of chemo treatments March 25 and his last radiation treatment March 28. He will get a scan in eight to ten weeks to determine whether the treatments were successful.
“I’m still a little tired, weak. I don’t have my energy,” Schultz said. In addition to thanking Cranberry CUP, he wanted to thank his wife.
“She did everything for me. She deserves all the credit, not me. Tomorrow will mark 15 years to the day we met in North Boundary Park,” he said Saturday.
Bertolino said his organization helps families by providing money needed for living expenses: utilities, mortgage, groceries and gasoline.
Eligible families fill out an application or are referred to the organization, and a recipient is selected by Cranberry CUP's eight-member board, which formed in 2020.
“It’s a worthwhile cause. Families go through tragic circumstances alone and feeling isolated. We have the organization to show them they are not alone,” said Robin Shaffer, Cranberry CUP vice president.
One family previously helped by Cranberry CUP is Julie and David Pritchard, who were selected as the group’s inspirational family in 2019.
“My husband was waiting for a kidney transplant. That was their goal for us, trying to find us a donor and get people to step up and donate,” said Julie Pritchard. “They donated a new refrigerator to us and helped us out with bills. Whatever they ran across, they were willing to help us. They got vendors to do some work around the home, plumbing and electrical issues. They were extremely helpful.”
David Pritchard had a kidney transplant in 2006 and in 2016 was diagnosed with tongue and tonsil cancer. In 2018, he suffered kidney failure and was put on the kidney recipient list in 2019. But because of his health, Pritchard was removed from the list in 2020 and started dialysis three times a week.
The Pritchards come to the opening ceremony every year.
“We are willing to do anything anytime they ask us,” Julie said.
Victoria Kush of Cranberry Township was willing to help out by singing the national anthem at the opening ceremony. The present-day lawyer is a former Miss Pennsylvania 2004, and as a professionally trained singer, she traveled the state for singing engagements during her reign.
“They approached me. I’m not nervous but very excited to help out a wonderful cause. To be able to help a family in need is an honor,” Kush said.
Vice president Robin Shaffer said Cranberry CUP was started by Cathy Cortazzo, who got seven neighborhoods to participate in the first softball tournament to raise money for one family, and it has grown every year since.
“We are really proud of this organization and what it’s brought to Cranberry Township, and we enjoy the support of the community as we unite people,” Shaffer said. “It takes a tremendous amount of effort. Fortunately, we are blessed with a lot of good people and volunteers and a township that supports us.”
In turn, Cranberry CUP supports the township, said Roy Rudolph, the group’s treasurer. “We support the township where we can in terms of upgrading playgrounds, things that are family focused.”
During the opening ceremonies, hosted by Celina Pompeani, contributor to KDKA’s Pittsburgh Today Live, Cranberry CUP presented a $2,000 check to Veronica Pimenova, a Seneca Valley High School graduate, to help pay for her first year at Carnegie-Mellon University, where she is majoring in computer science and cybersecurity.
