PEORIA, Ill. – The Bradley Braves Baseball team prepares to host the fifth Mitch Janssen Memorial game and the annual and nationally recognized Pediatric Brain Cancer Fundraiser game in the Belmont Series.
Weekend Information
Location: Dozer Park in Peoria, IL
Opponent: Belmont
Friday, April 11 (Game One): Mitch Janssen Memorial Game
Sunday, April 13 (Game Three): Head Shavings for Pediatric Brain Cancer
Friday, April 11: Mitch Janssen Memorial Game
The game will honor former Bradley pitcher Mitch Janssen, who was tragically killed in a plane crash on March 3, 2020, after graduating from the University in 2019.
Janssen, through his career as a Brave, recorded a 4.34 ERA, showing his best outings during his senior season with a 4-2 record and 2.06 ERA, while allowing opponents to hit just .199, leading NCAA Division I Baseball in earned run average for several weeks throughout the season. He finished the season ranked 25th nationally, with the 3rd best season ERA by a Bradley pitcher during the metal bat era. In 2019, he was selected to the All-Missouri Valley Conference second-team and qualified for the MVC Honor Roll all four years at Bradley.
In addition to his baseball accomplishments, Janssen was a skilled commercial charter jet pilot during his last two years of college. In 2018, at just 20 years old, Janssen became the youngest pilot in the world certified to fly the Embraer Phenom 100 jet.
The Janssen family will throw out the ceremonial first pitch to begin the Friday game.
Sunday, April 13: Pediatric Brain Cancer Fundraiser
Following the conclusion of the game, the Bradley Baseball team will collectively shave their heads in support of Vs Cancer – a Pediatric Brain Cancer Foundation. For almost a decade, Bradley University has raised money for the foundation, an effort that was championed by Janssen during his time at Bradley. In 2021, the Braves finished as the top college team in fundraising across the country and to date have raised well over $100,000 for the cause, looking to grow that number this year.
You can watch the players and coaches shave their heads postgame out on the left field concourse.
