On Saturday, Memorial Field in Ashland, turned blue for the afternoon. The Ashland Black Diamonds hosted the Shenandoah Blue Devils. Both teams wore blue ribbons and/or socks as part of their "Blue Out" or "Hydro Out" game to raise money and awareness for the Hydrocephalus Support Foundation.
Hydrocephalus, also called "Water on the Brain", is a condition in which fluid accumulates in the brain, typically in young children, enlarging the head and sometimes causing brain damage. A cure for the condition has yet to be found and treatment requires surgery of the brain.
Hydrocephalus hits close to the home for the Black Diamonds, as two members of the Diamond family have the condition.
Xandir Malafarina, #24 for the Black Diamond Knee-Highs, was diagnosed and has received surgery to place a shunt to drain the fluid from his brain. Xandir has been cleared by doctors and takes the field weekly, along with the rest of his teammates.
Xandir's mom, Lee Ann Malafarina, organized the blue out game and reached out to the Blue Devils, who were more than willing to help.
"We reached out to the Blue Devils and they jumped right on board and wanted to help." said Malafarina.
The Blue Devil Cheerleaders created a banner stating "Friends Don't Let Friends Fight Alone".
At the game, the Black Diamonds also collected monetary donations and raffled off crafts to earn money, to go to the foundation.
When the game was over, both teams came together for one final photo.
