Current, former players honor Greenbrier coach

Mark Moseley mingled near the backstop Wednesday before Greenbrier High School's home softball game with Harlem, talking with his family and shaking hands with well-wishers.

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The Wolfpack lay coach was diagnosed with cancer in 2007. And Wednesday's game was about him.

"He's been an inspiration to us all throughout the process," Greenbrier coach Garrett Black told the crowd before the game.

Greenbrier players and fans wore blue, a color that represents colon cancer awareness. Harlem players wore pink T-shirts to support breast cancer awareness.

All the money made from the game went to the American Cancer Society.

Greenbrier won the game, 4-1. The victory was the Wolfpack's 400th as a program.

Many former Greenbrier players were on hand in a show of support to Moseley. They gathered behind the pitcher's circle before the game as Moseley was asked to throw the first pitch.

Jennifer Shearouse, a 2002 Greenbrier graduate, surprised her father by emerging from the visitors' side and crouching behind home plate. Shearouse made the trip from Atlanta that day. Her brother, Andrew Moseley, drove up from Savannah.

Shearouse had last played softball in sixth grade. One of Moseley's favorite photos shows his daughter poised to throw in her catcher's garb, with a leotard underneath. She had a performance later that night at Bell Auditorium and no time to change.

"Do you remember how to do this?" Moseley asked her as he prepared to throw.

Moseley received a standing ovation from the crowd. The Wolfpack presented him with a framed team photo signed by each member.

Moseley is known for the letters he writes to Wolfpack players at the end of each season. On Wednesday, the former Greenbrier players presented Moseley with a folder full of letters they had written him.

The game Wednesday was only the third Moseley has attended this season. Moseley, who kept the team stats 13 seasons and knows all the team's numbers, has had to pass on the job this season.

After his diagnosis in 2007, he underwent surgery to remove the tumor from his colon. But the cancer had already metastasized to his liver.

Moseley has undergone four sessions of chemotherapy and four surgeries since. After each chemotherapy treatment, the initial signs were positive. But the cancer adjusted.

Moseley decided Tuesday night to participate in an investigative study, one that will treat him with a brand new drug.

The goal is to shrink the tumors enough for doctors to remove them.

"We've got to find a chemo that works," Moseley said.

Moseley has been labeled by his family as "Poster Boy," for the way he has handled his battle with cancer. He said he had always been accused of being too optimistic before his diagnosis and now he is praised for it.

"I've had a lot of hugs tonight," Moseley said. "It feels good. That's why I come out here."

Harlem coach Mike Leverett was among those with kind words for Moseley.

Leverett said he thought Wednesday was the best game he'd seen Harlem play at Greenbrier.

Bulldogs pitcher Kayleigh McNair struck out nine. Harlem's defense didn't allow more than one run in an inning.

Harlem freshman Tori Poss reached to start the seventh and scored on a sacrifice fly before the game ended.

Leverett praised his defense, but also shared his thoughts on Moseley. Leverett's daughter, Brittany, was part of Greenbrier's 2004 state championship team.

He said Moseley wrote his daughter a letter that would bring tears to your eyes.

"He doesn't just love the softball game," Leverett said. "He loves the kids."