Bronson Home Run for Life

During select Growlers home games, the Growlers in conjunction with Bronson Sports Medicine will recognize pre-selected individual(s) on the field during an in-inning break.

The honoree is someone who has overcome some type of serious, debilitating illness.

During the inning break, the honoree and their support team are taken to the field. The honoree will stand at home plate with both teams lined up on the basepaths while their story is told over the P.A. system for fans to hear.

The honoree will then take their own, symbolic turn around the bases. They are greeted at home plate by loved ones with both teams and all fans standing to applaud.

The 2025 Home for Life recipients are: Jackson Farrell, Malachai Stancle (2011 – 2015), and Ashley Schmidt.

Jackson Farrell

Malachai Stancle (2011-2025)

Ashley Schmidt

We honored 12-year-old cancer fighter Jackson Farrell and his family at Superhero Night.
 
We paused the game, brought them on the field and listened the family share their story of driving back and forth from Battle Creek, MI to Kalamazoo for Jackson’s cancer treatment.
 
Jackson’s Pitch for Life was a special moment and our team is honored to celebrate him & his family’s strength at Homer Stryker Field in front of a sold out crowd.

And this is a reminder that the real superheroes are people that live among us including the cancer fighters & survivors.

 
Growler Nation is fighting with you, Jackson!

We honored a special kid who is no longer with us on Kids TV Takeover Night presented by Bronson Children’s Hospital: Malachai Stancle.

He was born with his intestines on the outside of his body and endured multiple surgeries and procedures—many lasting two to three-week stays in the pediatric unit.

Malachai was a patient at Bronson Children’s Hospital for all of his life and grew to know the staff as his friends throughout his treatment.

He passed away in March 2025—just weeks before he would have turned 14 years old.

His mom and siblings were the recipients honored that completed the Home Run for Life in his memory.

The Growlers and Bronson Children’s Hospital stand with his loved ones and celebrate a life that defied expectations, brought light and joy to others, and inspired his mom.

We honored Ashley Schmidt at Homer Stryker Field on August 8th.
 
She was born with AMC (Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita) meaning that her joints are stiff and cannot move freely.
 
But that hasn’t stopped her from reaching new heights and inspiring people.
 
“Everybody has their own mountains to climb,” Ashley said. “But you either want to climb it or keep staring at it. I always want to keep climbing it.”
 
She is writing a new chapter and climbing new mountains with her fight at Bronson Methodist Hospital.
 
Growler Nation is with you, Ashley!