Winner at baseball beaten by cancer

Matthew Wright was one of the fastest players on his South Elgin High School baseball team, the Storm.

The Bartlett teen usually batted second in the lineup, utilizing his ability to make contact and advance the runners, as well as his knack for making things happen once he reached the base paths.

However, for all of his competitiveness on the field, there was one battle he couldn't win - the one he fought against cancer.

The 2008 graduate died Monday after a 16-month battle with testicular cancer. He was 19.

"He loved sports and loved to compete, but he fought the cancer harder than he ever did in baseball," says his father, Scott. "He fought his cancer with a lot of passion and a lot of heart."

He drew inspiration from cyclist Lance Armstrong's ability to overcome the disease and go on to lead a normal life. "His goal was to put the cancer behind him and move on," his father adds.

However, Mr. Wright endured many more heartaches and setbacks in his own race to beat the cancer than Lance did, enduring six surgeries in less than a year in trying to overcome his disease.

"He wanted to do everything in his power to find a cure, and one day return to who he was before the cancer struck," his dad said.

Mr. Wright started playing baseball with Bartlett Little League. His age group was so talented, the Bartlett Silver Hawks traveling team was formed with the mission to build character, develop athletes and serve the community.

When many of those same players moved on to Bartlett High School, they posted a record of 26-1 their freshman year. However, the team split up the next year when half of them moved to the new South Elgin High School. Mr. Wright, who was named an honorable mention all conference selection in baseball in 2007 by officials with the Upstate Eight Conference, was in the school's first graduating class in 2008.

Besides his adjustment to a new school, Mr. Wright also endured the death of his mother, Julie, who died of breast cancer at the end of his sophomore year. Family members say he found solace in his large extended family as well as his involvement in the youth group at the Village Church of Bartlett.

After he became ill, Mr. Wright wanted most of all to convince other teens his age not to ignore the warning signs of testicular cancer.

"He wanted to tell kids his age that they're not invincible," his father said. "Know the warning signs and test yourself. The disease is highly treatable if caught early enough."

Besides his father, Mr. Wright is survived by his stepmother Michelle, brother Justin, stepbrother Tyler, and girlfriend Melanie Berg.

Visitation takes place from 2-9 p.m. today at Countryside Funeral Home & Crematory, 950 South Bartlett Road, before a 10 a.m. funeral on Saturday at the Village Church of Bartlett, 601 W. Bartlett Road, both in Bartlett.