In the wake of tragedy, the Spruce Creek High School baseball community is finding strength in unity. Following the sudden passing of assistant coach Adam "Stump" Smith in a fatal auto accident on May 10, three standout Hawks—Mason Sanders, Jordan Livingston, and Joe Christen—are channeling their grief into purpose as they prepare for the Cure All-Stars Baseball Game in Sanford on May 13.

This annual event, hosted by the Orlando Sports Foundation, raises funds for cancer research and honors academic and athletic excellence. For the Spruce Creek trio, being hand-picked by their coaches is both an honor and a bittersweet reminder of the mentor they lost just days before the game.

"Coach Smith was a valued team member. Our school and community are devastated by his loss," said Principal Dr. Todd Sparger in a statement. Smith, a former New Smyrna Beach High School player and coach who also coached at DeLand High School, had spent three years at Spruce Creek, where he served as the team's catcher coach—a role that deeply impacted Joe Christen, a catcher himself.

"The news has been so devastating, especially for our boys," said Blanca Christen, Joe's mother. "My son is a catcher, so this has hit him really hard."

The Hawks had just wrapped up a stellar season with a 26-5 record, ranked top-20 in the state, and a 12-game winning streak that ended in a regional playoff loss to Oviedo's Hagerty High School on May 3. While the rest of the team's season has concluded, Sanders, Livingston, and Christen are set to represent Volusia County against Lake County in the all-star game—a chance to honor Smith's legacy on the diamond.

As they step onto the field, these young athletes carry more than just their bats and gloves; they carry the memory of a coach who believed in them, proving that even in the face of loss, the game goes on.