Pitching coach Todd Oakes has been given the College Baseball Inspiration Award.https://t.co/q9UyVoXDAG pic.twitter.com/BuB7WTdTfF
— Minnesota Baseball (@GopherBaseball) January 8, 2016
The Gophers baseball team is on the field this afternoon in an elimination game against Michigan, and they’ll be playing with heavy hearts and minds.
Pitching coach Todd Oakes died after a long battle with cancer.
“With a heavy heart, we are saddened to say that Todd passed away peacefully this morning,” his family wrote on Oakes’ CaringBridge page. “He was surrounded by his family with a cross in his hand and his favorite music playing.”
Oakes was moved into home hospice care last week as his four-year fight with Leukemia neared its end. He was the Gophers’ pitching coach for 18 years.
The Gophers won the Big Ten regular season championship last week with Oakes, and celebrated with Oakes’ No. 25 uniform after the game at Siebert Field. On Sunday, coach John Anderson took the championship trophy to Oakes, according to Joe Christensen.
This one's for you, 25. #TeamTO pic.twitter.com/CNLTELA0NL
— Minnesota Baseball (@GopherBaseball) May 21, 2016
