Home run derby has a grand slam of an evening

For Jacob Bongers and his family, Home Town Bats’ ninth annual benefit home run derby was a grand slam of an evening.

A crowd estimated at 600 attended the Saturday, June 28, event at Don Giesen Field in Union Hill. Sunny skies and warm temperatures greeted the crowd who came out to raise funds for the Bongers family and watch local town ball players hit 193 home runs during the evening.

“It’s surreal, with all these people, many who we don’t even know, coming out to help our kid,” said Paul Bongers, Jacob’s dad. “It’s a position in life we never knew we would be in.”

Jacob was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a form of brain cancer, Nov. 19, 2021. He has undergone brain surgery and gone through 30 rounds of chemotherapy treatments. The cancer went into remission, but brain scans showed it had resurfaced March, 2024. Jacob had a series of oral cancer treatments and treatment through an infusion port in his chest. Since then, his brain scans have been stable.

“The support we’ve received from everyone has helped keep us going,” said Larissa Bongers, Jacob’s mom. “With how many people are here to help, it makes it easier.”

Paul Bongers said when they were first contacted about the fundraiser it was a little hard to take help, but now he finds it flattering and was taken aback with how many people want to help.

“It’s good to see so many people are here. It makes you realize there are still good people in the world,” said Paul Bongers.

“To see so much good, so many people come out to support us, I can’t even put into words what it means,” said Larissa Bongers.

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To see more on this story pick up the July 3, 2025 print edition of The New Prague Times.