“Let’s go Dave” signs were seen behind home plate at Eastern’s softball’s care game Saturday. The words were for David Gonzalez, senior infielder Briana Gonzalez’s dad.  

David Gonzalez was diagnosed with sarcoma on Jan. 31, 2025.  

“The diagnosis was such a heartbreaking shock to me and my family,” Gonzalez said. “My dad is a tremendously strong guy both physically and mentally. We were distraught that something like this could happen to our dad.”  

The care game was meant to bring awareness to sarcoma and people who have it.  

Briana Gonzalez left after Thursday’s game against Purdue to be with her dad in her home state of California.  

“When I found out I was going home, I was just so grateful to my coaches for being so understanding and willing to get me home,” Gonzalez said. “I was so sad but just happy I was going home to see my dad, be with him and give him all my love.”   

Gonzalez said her dad is currently in hospice at UCLA Health. 

“I found out on Thursday after we played Purdue that the cancer had progressed to a point where there was nothing more medically that could be done,” Gonzalez said. “He is currently surrounded by his loving wife and six kids as he passes into heaven.”  

Briana Gonzalez said her mom has been by her dad’s side since the diagnosis.  

“My mom is the strongest person I’ve ever known next to my dad, and she has been his rock through everything. I hope to be just as strong as her one day,” Gonzalez said.   

Some people from the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Eastern went to support the Gonzalez family as they brought signs that displayed, “Let’s go Dave,” and “We love #7.”   

“I saw the FCA signs on TV and it meant everything to me,” Gonzalez said. “My FCA family has been my rock through this difficult time. My brothers and sisters in Christ have been praying for my dad and my family every day.”

Eastern still had a game to play, but head coach Dan Paulson said it was difficult because he is a softy.  

“Yeah, it was definitely an emotional day,” Paulson said softly, trying not to cry. “I mean, just, Bri Gonzalez, she’s home right now with her father. And so, you know, playing in his honor.”  

When Gonzalez found out about the care game, she said that it meant a lot to her and her family for her coaches and teammates to care about them that much.  

Gonzalez’s dad was not the only person that was honored for the care game. Eastern was playing University of Southern Indiana, and the Screaming Eagles lost former catcher Courtney Schoolcraft to sarcoma on April 3, 2024.   

Schoolcraft was diagnosed with sarcoma during her freshman year at USI. She played through her cancer for four years until it got worse last year.   

“We lost her last April,” head coach Sue Kunkle said. “She was kind of on the rise, and it came back pretty hard. But we wear yellow quite a bit in her honor.”  

Southern Indiana wore their yellow jerseys on Saturday, while Eastern wore yellow bows and socks for the care game.  

Before the game, both teams came to home plate to do a prayer for everyone affected by sarcoma and a moment of silence.  

Freshman utility player Abbi Hatton said that they had to focus quick after the emotional start so they could win the game for Gonzalez.  

“Ultimately, we had to take that sadness and kind of motivate ourselves really quick and turn the page and really focus in on the game and do it for Bri since she can’t be here,” Hatton said.   

Eastern won the game 5-2, and Paulson said that the team made sure to win for Briana.  

“It’s one of those things where faith or fate or whatever you want to call it was on our side today,” Paulson said. “So, you just never know how it’s going to go in that situation. But I think they were pumped. They wanted to win this for Bri [Gonzalez] and Dave [Gonzalez], and that’s what they did.”  

Briana Gonzalez said that after the diagnosis, it was hard for her to focus on softball, but her dad wanted her to keep on playing and not quit.  

Gonzalez said she is going to put her heart into softball for her dad as she plays the rest of the season without him with her.  

“My dad is the best father I could have asked for, the best role model, coach and friend,” Gonzalez said. “I hope I make him proud each day for the rest of my life. I love you more than anything dad.”  

Patrick Schmitz can be reached at 581-2812 or at pfschmitz@eiu.edu.