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Published: 6/12/2012 | Updated: 5/18/2013
Debbie Catlett is the grandmother of a Dirtbag. And a Dirtbag, herself. The Dirtbags are a traveling summer baseball team, with several age groups. Most come from the Palmyra and Hannibal area in Missouri. Catlett is at every game, heat or sun or rain, and she loves watching her grandkids play. Not long ago, Catlett found out she had breast cancer for the second time, after 20 years of remission. It hasn't stopped her from sitting in the stands and cheering on her Dirtbags. She started chemotherapy last week. She knew she'd lose her hair and she'd joke about it, but she wasn't looking forward to it. Still, she will wear it proud. Over the weekend of June 2-3, the U-11 Dirtbags played in a tournament in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The team easily won its first two games, with Catlett cheering grandson Peyton Welch and the rest of the team despite not feeling well. At the hotel that Saturday night, the boys gathered in the lobby and thought about Catlett. There had been talk for a while about who would get their head shaved, how much would come off, etc. Remember something here. We are talking about 11-year-old boys. Who knows what they were thinking when approached about getting their hair cut off, or what their buddies, family and others thought. The first player sat in the chair and got his head shaved, and soon, one by one, all the boys decided to go bald. Even the coaches joined in, and red, blond and gray hair soon covered the floor. Dirtbag mom Sarah Wilson, owner of The Loft in Hannibal, donated two hours to shave the heads. The bald boys of summer had their pictures taken with huge beaming smiles. Then they signed a pink bat for Debbie, donated by Darin and Joelle Goodwin, and the Dirtbag parents. The next day, Catlett arrived at the field as the boys were warming up. They approached her and took off their hats to show their bald heads, and there wasn't a dry eye around. Catlett stood in awe and looked at the boys. Her Dirtbags knew she was starting chemo and vowed to be with her every step of the way. Cancer, it seems, reared its ugly head. The boys decided they would not take it sitting down, or by brushing their hair, for that matter. Then the Dirtbags took the field and dominated for three more games to win the championship, outscoring the opponents 67-17 in the five games. When they got their trophies, they turned to Catlett, gave her a trophy and said, "This one is for you!" All games end with a chant, and Catlett had the honors this time. "Who are we?" she yelled. "Dirtbags!" the boys bellowed back. "Dirtbags on three ... one, two three, DIRTBAGS!" The Dirtbags are Cade Biswell, Caden Power, Gabe Goodwin, Brady Barnett, Peyton Abbott and Peyton Holstine, all of Palmyra; London Brunk of Kahoka; Ethan Wingerter of Canton; Cruz Meier of Camp Point, Ill.; and Peyton Welch and Travis Wilson of Hannibal. Coaches are Joey Welch of Hannibal and Chris Power and Andy Barnett, both of Palmyra. Proud to be a Dirtbag. And proud to be the bald boys of summer, letting their biggest fan know she is not alone in her fight against cancer. -- rhart@whig.com/221-3370
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