A boy who loved baseball passed away last week. Tyler Joseph Trembley, who played in the Dixie Youth leagues at Lott Park in Daphne died Thursday after an extra-inning battle with cancer. He was 11.

Of course he loved much more than baseball, but with a Hall-of-Fame sized heart, Tyler had love for everyone — even Yankees fans.

Just as baseball is about winning and losing, so life is about living and dying. And baseball and life are both fields of play where dreams and reality collide.

The collision of Tyler's dreams of playing for the Boston Red Sox and the reality of his three-year battle with a stage-four opponent did not turn out the way we may have wanted: A walk-off grand-slam over neuroblastoma.

But Tyler went the distance, fighting his foe all the way for years past the initial prognosis.

Along the way he struggled and rallied and inspired many others who love the game, including some who reached the professional ranks.

Mobilian Ronnie Wright came into Tyler's life during the season of 2008 after cancer had invaded both their dreams.

Wright spent some time with Tyler recently at a BayBears game at Hank Aaron Stadium with former major-league stars Turner Ward and Jon Lieber who also have strong ties to the Mobile area. Wright had the following to say about his young friend:

“August of 2008 will hold special memories for me. Some good and many not so good. I’ve enjoyed for over fifteen years volunteering for Magic Moments, an Alabama based wish-granting organization. I’ve experienced many different family illnesses without really knowing the depth of their pain as each child deals with life’s challenges.

“Early August we received devastating news that my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer and for the first time I understood how many before me had felt. As I was going through our own crisis, I received a phone call concerning an eight-year-old boy struggling with a stage-four cancerous brain tumor. And as bad as things were for me and my family, I simply couldn’t imagine what it would be like for it to be one of my children.

“I called Tyler’s mom and we immediately bonded as we were both fighting this terrible disease called cancer. Tyler was a huge Red Sox fan and I played professional baseball with the New York Yankees’ organization so we both know what it's like to keep fighting and never giving up until the game is over.

“Tyler’s mom and I have stayed in touch about their conditions. My wife is now a cancer survivor and about three weeks ago I found out that, unfortunately, my buddy Tyler was again fighting for his life.

“I saw Tyler a couple of weeks ago in a surprise visit with a couple of friends who just happen to be major league stars. They were Jon Lieber, who was a major league pitcher and Turner Ward, who is the manager of the Mobile BayBears. We were able to talk a little baseball and Tyler assured me that just because his little league team was the Yankees, he was still a faithful Red Sox fan. Although times were difficult for Tyler, you would never know it by his positive demeanor and kindness to everyone around.

“It truly has been an honor to meet such a strong young man, dealing with such difficult challenges, who was able to bring such joy to all those around him.”

Tyler’s family and friends will hold a Celebration of Life Service at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 14 at Eastern Shore Baptist Church (6847 Park Drive) in Daphne.

He is survived by his twin sister, Hannah Elizabeth Trembley, his brothers, Justin Griggs and Matthew Trembley, his mother, Hope Trembley, and his father, Jeff Trembley.

In lieu of flowers, the Trembley family has asked that a donation be made to your favorite charity in Tyler’s name.

An on-line guestbook may be signed at hughesfuneralservice.com

His Earthly dreams may have been called by reality, but I believe Tyler now pitches for the Red Sox, pinch-hits for the Angels and plays as long as he wants. He pitches perfect games, bats a thousand and fields with a Gold Glove. Team reality never stands a chance. Because a boy who loved baseball, still does.

For more information on how to help Tyler’s family offset some of their medical bills, contact Kara Wilbourn at: karaw@bellsouth.net and visit and ‘like’ the: “I Wear Gold for Tyler” community page on facebook.

My thanks to Kara Wilbourn, Laurie Smith and Ronnie Wright for sharing Tyler's story and Joe Hutchins, Keith Graham and the Daphne High baseball team for helping Tyler and his family.