Neil De Herrera, front row center, with his wife, Melinda and three of their chldren, Shaniah, Abigail and Maria prior to Saturday’s Los Alamos High School doubleheader against Taos High School. Abigail and Maria are on the LAHS varsity team. The team organized a Colon Cancer Awareness Day in recognition of Neil De Herrera’s courageous battle with colon cancer. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com

LAHS varsity softball players and coaches watch the VFW Color Guard present colors prior to Saturday’s softball game at Overlook Sports Complex in White Rock. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com

Neil De Herrera, center, and his wife, Melinda chat with Sen. Leo Jaramillo Saturday. Sen. Jaramillo was invited to pitch the first ball for the LAHS softball game against Taos High School. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com

The Los Alamos HIgh School varsity softball team coaches and players are joined by Sen. Leo Jaramillo prior to their first game Saturday against Taos High School. The team raised funds for the American Cancer Society’s Hope at Bat program, which raises funds to help save lives, celebrate and lead the fight for a world without cancer. Donations to the team’s fundraiser in Neil De Herrera’s name may be made at https://secure.acsevents.org/site/STR?fr_id=103402&pg=team&team_id=2626885 Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com

The Taos High School team, wearing blue ribbons to show support for the LAHS team’s Colon Cancer Awareness Day Saturday. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com