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Whitecaps players surprise cancer-free youngster

Posted at 2:05 PM, May 14, 2016
and last updated 2016-05-14 22:56:02-04

GRANDVILLE, Mich. — The West Michigan Whitecaps provided quite a surprise Saturday for a young boy who was recently declared to be cancer-free.

Nine Whitecaps players suddenly appeared from behind a building at a Little League baseball game where one of the players was Will Colthorp, surprising both Will and the players on both teams.

"He has loved baseball since he was born practically," said Amy Colthorp, Will's mother.

Only Will's parents, both teams' coaches and FOX 17 were in on the surprise.

"My husband and I knew about the Whitecaps coming, but my son did not," said Colthorp. "He was so very excited when they got there."

Will was diagnosed with cancer in July of 2015. A tumor (the size of a pomegranate) was removed from his abdomen. Following  surgery and nine months of chemotherapy, Will was recently diagnosed as cancer free.

"He probably missed around 45 to 50 days of school," says Colthorp. "He was in the hospital for a lot of his chemo treatments because he didn't tolerate them at all."

Nine players from the West Michigan Whitecaps surprised Will and his team, even taking a chance to play the sport they both love.

"The purpose was really to get the guys (team) out here in the morning, remind them when they were this age playing, but also to make sure that we gave Will a day that he could never forget as well as the team," said Jessica Muzevuca, the West Michigan Whitecaps Community Relations Manager.

The Whitecaps are the defending Midwest League champions.