Zeke and Zane’s First Pitches Made Possible by Children’s Hospital Colorado

AURORA – Saturday’s championship festivities at All-Star Park in Lakewood started with first pitches from some very special guests, courtesy of Children’s Hospital Colorado.

The Chavez Varela brothers, six-year-old Zeke and four-year-old Zane, were invited to join the Regis Jesuit and Cherry Creek catchers on the field to throw out the first pitch at the championship game.

Through the Colorado High School Activities Associations partnership with Children’s Hospital Colorado, a child is selected each year to be an honorary guest on the field and throw out the first pitch of the state championship baseball game.

Zane, a kindergartener, loves Spider-Man, riding rollercoasters and watching the Colorado Avalanche. Younger brother Zeke loves the beloved character Mickey Mouse, the show Cocomelon and playing with his older brother. The two boys are bound by more than just family ties though, as they also share a rare cardiac diagnosis — hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS).

“I love that I get to see my brothers get to have all these opportunities and have the best time of their lives doing it,” sister Leah Chavez Varela said. “I love that I get to hear them be so excited to do this. It’s great to see so many people support them and see them have this opportunity so many kids would dream of.”

“Working with Children’s Hospital Colorado has been an incredible experience,” CHSAA general manager of corporate partnerships Kurt Dzaman said. “It’s really great to see the kids being involved in an incredible event, like state championship baseball, and get to enjoy this moment of normalcy and receive support from such a crowd.”