The St. Thomas Academy baseball team is mourning player Bennett Kotok

MENDOTA HEIGHTS, Minn. — The St. Thomas Academy baseball team learns to deal with the grief and pain of losing a teammate.

The Cadets are playing for more than just themselves this baseball season. They play for their former teammate, Bennett Kotok.

“We’re trying to play the way he plays and continue his legacy,” Cadets captain Jonathan Dobis said.

Kotok was a catcher for the Cadets and graduated last year. While in the middle of his freshman year at Creighton University, he died suddenly in his sleep from a rare heart condition he didn’t know he had.

The team now honors their friend and former teammate with his initials on all their caps, bracelets on all their wrists, a jersey retirement and a memorial at home plate.

“He was the only catcher I ever threw to who wore an STA uniform until this year, so it was really a blessing to be able to throw to him,” he said.

Dobis, one of Kotok’s closest friends, says they are putting their grief into action by raising thousands of dollars to build a new batting cage that will benefit the team for generations of Cadet baseball players.

“One thing he would do is he would be the first person in the cage and the last person to leave,” he said.

Bennett’s mother, Susan, is in the stands at almost every home game. Watching her son’s team helps her grieve.

“We feel him here,” said Susan Kotok. “This was the place where he was most joyful.”

These guys prove that a team goes beyond baseball. It is a family that is there for each other through the highs and lows.

“For us to come together as a community is what he would like to see,” she said. “I’m grateful that he’s my son. I’m very proud.”

“People ask me how I’m doing and I say ‘I’m alive’ because I know my boyfriend can’t say that anymore and that’s something that I sometimes take for granted, I feel like every day I try to to make the best of it,” Dobis said.

You can still donate to help pay for the special batting cages. They hope to have them built later this year so they will be ready for use by the next baseball season.