Baseball has been a place for Ryan Nelson to get away.
"It's very difficult to play baseball when I think about it. But in a way baseball helps me get away from it."
It is colorectal cancer. Ryan's father Eric was diagnosed in August 2010. After a 10 month remission, the cancer returned in February.
"The initial diagnosis you're just in shock. I found out in this parking lot that it had come back," Eric said.
So while a father fights, a son battles on the field.
"It's been a solid base for him other than home which is, ya know, a lot of unsure moments at home," Eric said about his son.
"After seeing my father do the many things he's done in his life, run marathons, heavy lifter, football player, it's difficult seeing him not be able to do all that stuff. Very tired and exhausted.
Despite those feelings, Ryan has earned a scholarship to will play college ball at Quinipiac. "Hopefully he's proud of me. He's helped me throughout since I was about 8 years old throwing to me in the cages every single day, so I'm glad."