‘Ashlyn’s Night at the Ballpark’ is June 27

With her glove tucked under her arm, Ashlyn Clark jogged to her familiar spot in rightfield, turned and beamed with delight.
Clark, who graduated from Humboldt High School last month, has started many a game during her career for the Wildcat softball team.
But this wasn’t just another night for Clark and her teammates.
For the past month, Clark has been battling Stage 4 Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. Having completed her first round of chemotherapy treatments at the clinic in Rochester, MN, Clark felt strong enough to get back on the field. For her, it was a step forward and sewed hope for the future.
Clark played her first game of the season against Ogden on May 31. She also played in the Wildcats’ victories over Mason City and Eagle Grove the next day.
“It is indescribable to be out here on the field playing. I teared up when I went out onto the field because I didn’t think I was going to be able to play,” Clark said in a post-game interview. “Sitting in the hospital room – I was thinking about how all I wanted to do was come back and play and be out here.”
“Honestly, that is the thing that kept me going…,” Clark said, wiping away tears. “It’s so wonderful to be out here on the field with my teammates.”

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Ashlyn’s Night at the Ballpark will take place on Thursday, June 27, at the high school softball diamond at 5 p.m.
A freewill donation will gain you access to family fun, which includes crazy hair, bounce house, radar pitching and more.
The premier event at 7 p.m. will be the celebrity slow pitch game between former Iowa Hawkeye and Iowa State Cyclone football players. Among the former players on the ISU roster will include Joel Lanning, Ben Bruns, Lane Danielsen and Greg Schoon. Former Hawkeyes include Chad Greenway, Brad Banks, Kyle McCann, Bruce Nelson and Tyler Nielsen.
The last roster spot on each team will be auctioned off just prior to the game. Must be over 18 to play. Many items will be up for auction during the game, including Cyclone and Hawkeye VIP experiences and memorabilia.
Other events to support the Clark family include a home run derby (5-6 p.m.), meal and concessions, t-shirts, dunk tank (HHS coaches and cheerleaders) and autograph sessions. 100 percent of the proceeds will go directly to Ashlyn’s family, Derrik and Kristi Clark of Humboldt.
Unable to attend, donations can be made to First State Bank in Humboldt for the Ashlyn Clark Fund. You can also assist online at www.gf.me/u/szvmqm.