Going to bat for a coach

LYNN – Coaching has been a way of life for Lynn’s Jeff Blydell. As an athlete, teacher and coach, he was used to putting things in his own hands.Now, though, in the biggest fight of his life, Blydell will have to put matters in the hands of others – especially the doctors who are treating him.What was thought to have been the side effects of a cold he caught during this past grueling winter was instead found to be much worse. In early May, doctors diagnosed Blydell with the type of skin cancer known as melanoma.Not long after being diagnosed, Blydell found out the cancer in his body was spreading aggressively to areas in the abdomen and the brain. Doctors needed to perform brain surgery almost immediately to reduce and prevent any swelling there that could cause permanent harm.His 25 years of coaching experience on all levels, from Little League to Babe Ruth to high school, Blydell has become a role model for many children and young adults. That comes from a lifetime of coaching and teaching physical education at schools such as Tracy Elementary, which is where he is these days.And, now, those people whose lives he affected are giving back to him.Sunday, at Fraser Field, is “Coach Blydell Strong Day.” From 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., all the teams from the North Shore Baseball League, including the Phillies, for whom Blydell is the manager, will be playing in support of him.”It’s a pretty nice compliment to have people remember and appreciate the things that you do. I just do it for the love of the game,” said Blydell, who is undergoing his second round of chemotherapy this week.It hasn’t been an easy road for him. The first stage of treatment, the radiation stage, caused a blood clot that doctors found in Blydell’s lungs. The blood clot forced him to remain hospitalized for a week in order to drain the fluid from his lungs.”You never know how many people support you until something bad happens,” said Blydell’s son, Chris, who has been coached by his father his entire life (he also plays for the Phillies).The Phillies, who are currently in first place in their league and won the North Shore Baseball League two years ago, have had Jeff Blydell at the helm for 10 years.”I met Jeff when I was probably 12 years old,” said Chris Carroll, who will begin his first year as English’s head football coach in the fall. “He’s a great guy who has helped me, along with many others in baseball, softball and even basketball.”Sunday’s event is open to the public. The North Shore Navigators are pitching in by selling concessions and staffing the event. Shirts and raffles will be on sale with proceeds going towards funds for Blydell’s treatments.