Prep Baseball Report is proud to partner with the SkinnerStrong Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, to run the Joe Skinner Baseball Tournament. The event will take place in September, coinciding with Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and feature travel teams competing in pool play and bracket-style playoffs. Proceeds from the event will benefit the SkinnerStrong Foundation, which supports research in the area of childhood leukemia, the treatment and care of children with leukemia and Bishop Moore Catholic HS, FL. In lieu of gate fees to PBR Florida tournaments, there will be the option of making a donation to the SkinnerStrong Foundation.

SkinnerStrong was founded in 2016 to continue the legacy of Joe Skinner, who was diagnosed with hypodiploid acute lymphoblastic leukemia in December 2015 and passed away at the age of 17 in April 2016. The SkinnerStrong movement started with his teammates and friends, led by Mike Giordano, selling #SKINNERSTRONG shirts and wristbands to raise money for the Make A Wish Foundation and it grew from there.

Skinner was a gifted baseball player, committing to Central Florida as a freshman and receiving attention from major league organizations for the draft. Leukemia takes a physical toll, but it never seemed to dampen his spirits. Skinner attended as many games as he could during his senior year, supporting his teammates, and attacking the treatment head on.

That spring, he recalled thinking upon hearing the diagnosis, “Let’s get this cured and get back to normal life. It didn’t really hit me at first. It took a while to settle in. At first, I just thought it’s something I’ve gotta deal with. Beat it and move on.”

As it becomes available, more information about the Joe Skinner Baseball Tournament will be released by Prep Baseball Report and the SkinnerStrong Foundation. On Dec. 22, the SkinnerStrong Foundation is hosting its second annual SkinnerStrong Foundation Golf Tournament. Additional information can be found at www.skinnerstrong.org/events-registration/.