Bell City baseball team draws postseason inspiration from newfound fan

BELL CITY, Mo. -- There's a lot of winning when the Bell City Cubs and 8-year-old Izaac Pursley get together.

Izaac won over the Cubs at the Southeast Missouri Challenger Baseball event they volunteered to help with last weekend in Sikeston, Missouri, after they won the Class 1 District 2 title.

Izaac, born with a form of dwarfism, had a special affinity at the event for senior third baseman Nate Finney, who was attending the event with his teammates for the second year and unaware he was about to have a new friend.

"When we were there last year it was a good time -- we all bonded -- but this year, Izaac came up to us and was talking to us," said Bell City senior Peyton Maddox. "He said, 'Who's the third baseman?' You know, Nate over there. We said, 'It's Nate,' and he said, 'I want that to be my buddy.' And we said, 'Ok, go ahead, you can take him.'"

In a matter of seconds, Pursley approached Finney with his proposition for friendship.

"I think it's because of the position I play -- Coach Simpher and a couple of the guys said he wanted to play third base," Finney said. "Me being at third base, he kind of pointed at third base, he pointed to me. We saw each, and he walked up to me and said, 'Hey, will you be my buddy.'

"I said, 'Of course, I'll be your buddy,' and he was a super, super kid. He had a blast."

Simpher said his players like to do volunteer work, and do so at events such as the Challenger Baseball event with little more than him asking. He said his players enjoyed it last year and were wanting to return this year.

At the event, the Cubs helped the children swing and run the bases -- sometimes while holding a hand or pushing a wheelchair. They also helped protect the children in the field from hard-hit balls.

It turned into a memorable event for the Cubs, with Isaac and his enthusiasm particularly endearing.

"Not only did I have a connection with him, I think the whole team had a connection with him, seeing the drive he had just to play the sport," Finney said. "Every ball that was hit at Challenger Baseball, he went after it no matter where it was at. I think that really inspired the guys and really showed them that not everyone is as blessed as you are and has the opportunity you do.

"I think it just sparked with the guys that we need to keep him close and keep him at every game we could."

Pursley tossed out the first pitch before the Cubs' 15-0 sectional thumping of Gideon on Monday at Bell City High School, then traveled with his family to Bismarck, Missouri, to watch the Cubs outlast Bismarck in a nine-inning, 3-0 game in the state quarterfinals Wednesday.

"It feels good to know Izaac is there," Maddox said. "We got to win it, you know what I mean?"

Finney and the Cubs also expect to be playing before their new friend at the final four.

"His mom was talking about how he's going to be there Monday and Tuesday," Finney said. "It'll be good to have him. I kind of look at him as our little luck charm."