Hank Tripaldi is a high school baseball player on Northern California’s De La Salle School team. He recently hit a huge grand slam during his team’s game with Valley Christian in the Division I championship in Northern California, propelling his team to victory.
But, far more important than that victory was that he dedicated the hit to his recently departed mother, who died from a battle with breast cancer on April 25. “I love her. I miss her. I did it for her,” Hank said.
So, when rounding the bases after hitting a grand slam that put his team up 11-8 over Valley Christian in the seventh inning, Hank reached toward the sky, honoring his mother. The grand slam came at a critical time, with De La Salle down 8-7 with two outs after entering the seventh inning down 8-5. Hank then knocked the ball out of the park and his team into the winning spot.
Here’s a video of Hank’s awesome hit:
Hank Tripaldi. Hank Tripaldi. Hank Tripaldi. Wow! Grand slam, his second HR of the game, gives De La Salle an 11-8 lead with two out in the top of the seventh | @joseph_dycus @leftwich @GReeves23 @dlsathletics @MitchBookLive pic.twitter.com/ManoAdo8wI
— Darren Sabedra (@DarrenSabedra) June 3, 2023
Here’s another video of the huge hit:
THE GAME OF HIS LIFE!!!
Just over a month ago @TripaldiHank mother passed away due to breast cancer. Today, the junior led the Spartans to a NorCal title, beating Valley Christian 11-8.
3-5 / 2 HR / 6 RBI
INCREDIBLE!!!!!@DLSBaseball @dlsathletics pic.twitter.com/jx8mzQ4LIA
— Jake Vanderbroek (@JakeVanderbroek) June 4, 2023
Speaking about honoring her after his hit, he said, “As soon as I hit the first one, a finger goes in the air for her, right up to mom. She’s always on my mind. I love her. She was the most amazing thing that was ever in my life. I do everything for her now. Everything I do is for my mom or my friends — the most important people in my life.”
Hank also said that it was only because of his team’s support and the distraction provided by baseball that he was able to make it through his grief after she died, saying, “The only way I was able to get through it was coming to baseball practice, playing games, hanging out with my buddies. These are going to be my friends forever.” They supported him during the game as well by wearing green wristbands.
Speaking about the team’s support for Tripaldi, one of his teammates, Kai Smith, said, “We all love each other so much. He’s like a family member to us. What a Spartan way. How beautiful is that for him.” The team mascot is a Spartan, hence the “Spartan way” reference.
People online were hugely supportive of Hank. For example, in the comment section on Vanderbroek’s video of the hit, people said things like “True Spartan @TripaldiHank. No one deserves this moment more that him” and “God Bless Hank and his mother Robin🪽🙏🏻😇”. Similarly, on Sabedra’s video of the grand slam, people said “OMG. Destiny I suppose. What a COOL moment for that kid. Unreal. DUDE” and “That’s a way to win a championship 💯.”
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded Twitter video
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