Long Island softball teams come together to raise money for pediatric cancer in honor of Corey Phelan

Corey Phelan would’ve loved the scene at Flynn Memorial Park in Commack on Thursday.

Eight softball teams from across Long Island filled the park’s four fields in the Corey’s Promise Softball Tournament. All proceeds went to Corey’s Promise, a nonprofit organization run by Phelan’s parents with the mission to help families offset the financial burdens they endure during their child's cancer diagnosis and raise awareness for pediatric cancer.

Phelan was a 2020 Harborfields graduate who played professional baseball for the Philadelphia Phillies. He died at the age of 20 on Oct. 12, 2022, after a six-month battle against acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a form of cancer.

Phelan’s father, Chris, threw the tournament’s ceremonial first pitch accompanied by his wife, Christie.

“One of our missions is not only to raise money for pediatric cancer, it’s also to spread awareness,” Chris Phelan said. “When it starts to spread out into other sports like softball, it’s incredible. It just makes us feel like he isn’t forgotten. His promise of helping families out and spreading the awareness of pediatric cancer is heartwarming.”

The tournament was organized by Syosset coach David Anderson, who used to coach baseball with Chris Phelan. Anderson’s son, Matthew, played baseball with Phelan at Flynn Memorial Park.

Anderson began reaching out to teams and planning the tournament in October. Syosset was joined by Farmingdale, Massapequa, Seaford, Deer Park, East Islip, Smithtown West and Holy Trinity.

“First and foremost, I wanted to help the Phelan family. I think it’s a great cause,” Anderson said. “I also wanted to bring Nassau and Suffolk together to play because we rarely play each other. I’ve met coaches today that I’ve never met before. I think it’s something we should always do.”

Thursday marked three years since Phelan was diagnosed with cancer.

“I have no doubt that he had something to do with bringing us here on this special day,” Christie Phelan said.

Each team wore different colored jerseys with “Corey’s Promise” on the front. Syosset junior Ella Lanza and her family had the jerseys made and delivered to all the teams.

“It shows how the softball community can come together for such an amazing cause,” Lanza said. “It shows that we’re playing for more than a game. We’re playing for the families that need help and for the strength of Corey. We’re playing for more than ourselves.”

Each team played two non-league games while raffles were sold. People who entered the raffle were given softballs. After all the games ended, the raffle baskets were spread across one of the fields. The person that rolled their softball closest to each raffle basket won that basket.

“Corey was not only a great player, but a great person,” Anderson said. “I wanted to honor his legacy. Think about this: You come down with cancer and have not a lot of time to live and think about what you would think about. He was thinking about, ‘How can I help others?’ I just respect the heck out of that. He was always such an incredible person.”

Phelan appeared in five games in 2021 with Philadelphia’s Florida Complex League affiliate, pitching 9 2⁄3 innings and allowing one run. Chris Phelan said that his son would go to college softball tournaments with his teammates in Clearwater, Florida on their off days.

“Corey wanted nothing more in life than to play baseball,” Chris Phelan said. “To see the joy and happiness of these young women playing a sport for their school brings a smile to our faces because it makes us think of him… He just enjoyed being around sports, so he would’ve loved seeing this.”