NEW YORK (April 21, 2015) – The Drew University baseball team will be fighting two battles on Tuesday, April 22: One in a non-conference baseball game at the College of Staten Island at 7:00 p.m., and the other against breast cancer as the Rangers join forces with the Dolphins on CSI's 12^th Annual Grace Hillery Breast Cancer Awareness Night.
 
The Rangers will be wearing pink baseball caps under the lights on Tuesday and will use pink tape to participate in raising funds and awareness for breast cancer research.

"We are excited to be part of such a great cause," said Drew head coach Brian Hirschberg. "Every year we look forward to not only the game against The College of Staten Island, but also being able to raise money and awareness for breast cancer research."

Now in its 12th year, the annual contest celebrates the memory of Grace Hillery, mother to former student-athlete Anthony Hillery, who lost his mom to the disease during the 2004 season.  Hillery went on to play with the Dolphins through 2005, and what was once a passing idea has blossomed into one of Staten Island's most celebrated events.  This year's contest will pit the Dolphins against Drew University.  Admission to the game is free of charge, and there will be raffles, 50/50, games and prizes with every dollar donated going to support CSI's own Staten Island Breast Cancer Research Initiative.

"It was my grandmother who felt that it would be better if our family could raise money for breast cancer awareness, in lieu of all the flowers we received at my mother's funeral," said Hillery.  "I felt if I tied that idea into a baseball game dedicated to my mother, it would be a nice way of keeping her memory alive while raising money for a great cause.  I'm happy to have this event done each year. It keeps my mother's memory alive and helps other people as well.  Everyone has been very supportive, and if we can keep this going for years to come, it would be incredible."

Last year's event raised over $6,500 for the cause. Z100's Bethany Watson, the Co-host of the station's Elvis Duran and the Morning Show will be on hand to help celebrate the event for the second consecutive year, and will toss the evening's opening pitch along with Allie Vreeland, a breast cancer patient undergoing treatment who has ties to the baseball program and head coach Michael Mauro.

"To see a young woman going through what she is going through, anything you can do to help and make things easier is worthwhile," Mauro said. "The money donated will help Allie and her family deal with the costs of treatment and rehabilitation, and the community's support for her and her family will go a long way in helping her understand that we are all fighting the disease alongside her, and she is not alone."

For many years, portions of the funds raised have gone to the SIBCRI as well. Made up from a collection of CSI academia and students, the organization is charged with developing a epidemiological history of the disease, raising community awareness, and focusing on new and advanced ways of battling the epidemic through biological testing. The grass-roots initiative, which was started on CSI's Willowbrook campus is specific to Staten Island, and focuses on Staten Island's environmental impact on breast cancer, and what people in the borough can do to protect themselves.

"I'm happy to have this event done each year in my mother's memory," Hillery said. "I never expected the event to continue like it has, let alone get bigger each year. I am honored to be just a small part of it at this point."

Last year, CSI raised another terrific amount of funds at the Tomas D. Morales Baseball Field, mostly through concessions, raffle tickets, donations and breast cancer awareness T-shirts. This year, raffle prizes include Major League Baseball memorabilia, gift baskets from local vendors like the Staten Island Furrier, video games, gift certificates and much more.

A rousing pre-game ceremony will take place before first pitch, explaining the event and honoring special guests. The ceremony will be followed by an official kick off to the fundraising, with a ceremonial check offered by the night's keynote sponsor, One on One Sports Rehabilitation. During the seventh inning stretch, Anthony Hillery will address the crowd as he does every season.

Z100's Watson, who greeted the fans, helped sell raffle tickets, and partially emceed the evening, working the crowd for the full 9 innings, enjoyed her experience at the ballpark a year ago, and recently discussed it on the Elvis Duran and the Morning Show. A copy of the sound bite, heard nationally, can be heard HERE.

The game will be broadcast live through the internet via CSI SportsNet at www.csidolphins.com/watch and WSIA, at 88.9FM.

Admission to the event is free of charge. CSI matches up with Drew University for the fifth-straight year for the game. The Dolphins took a 7-4 come-from-behind win against the Rangers last year. Those who cannot attend the game but would still like to make a contribution, can do so by contacting the CSI Athletics Office at (718) 982-3169.