'A magical thing': Pirates baseball a refuge for 10-year-old brain cancer survivor

When Roman Senft grabs the microphone and yells “Play Ball!” prior to Tuesday’s Pirates game against the Giants are PNC Park, there will undoubtedly be plenty of excitement.

But for 10-year-old Roman and his family, the moment will represent so much more considering everything the baseball-loving bunch from Cranberry has endured this summer.

After emergency surgery for a malignant pediatric brain tumor in April, the Senfts spent two months at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., where Roman underwent targeted proton radiation therapy.

Though he’ll continue medicinal therapy for two more years to ensure the tumor doesn’t grow back, Roman’s oncology team and neurosurgeon recently cleared him for fall baseball ... and some superstar treatment courtesy of the Pirates and Chairman Bob Nutting.

“I’m very excited,” Roman said. “I can’t wait to [play fall ball], and I’m very grateful for the Pirates letting me do this.”

Play ball, indeed.

In addition to starting the game with those two magic words, Roman will help deliver the lineup card and hold the finish line for the Great Pittsburgh Pierogy Race.

The Senfts will live it up in the Home Plate Club, while plenty of friends and family members from around the Seneca Valley School District will make the trip, as well.

The support has been incredible, Roman’s mother Denise said. Along with the family’s love of baseball, especially the Pirates, a community-wide rally has helped make a difficult summer manageable.

“It’s really a magical thing,” Denise said. “Obviously no one wants to be in the position we’re in. But I think when people realizing you’re going through something like this, they almost come out of the woodwork. It has really restored our faith in humanity.”

All of this started on Saturday, April 4, the day after the Pirates’ home opener, which the Senfts attended. Pretty much out of nowhere, Roman began experiencing severe headaches and nausea, though they initially subsided with over-the-counter medication.

When they reoccured a few days later, the Senfts took Roman to a local hospital, where concern was still more dehydration, allergies or a virus. But when a third round occurred, a CT scan revealed a hemorrhaging brain tumor in his right frontal lobe.

That led to emergency surgery at UPMC Children’s Hospital two days later. A few weeks after that, the family traveled to Tennessee for treatment.

After learning of the Senft family’s story, the Pirates sent a care package. Meanwhile, manager of community programming Sarah Heffler remained in contact with Denise to learn about Roman’s progress, hoping to bring everyone to a game.

Given how the Senfts operate, here’s guessing they won’t need much of a PNC Park tour. They might be qualified to give one themselves.

Denise and her ex-husband Ryan have three boys: R.J., 13; Remington, 11; and Roman, who turned 10 in July.

They’ve attended Pirates home-openers pretty much since R.J. was born. They’ve also been known to fly a Dominican Republic flag on a broomstick, a nod to Denise having family members that still live in the baseball-crazed country.

Denise said they befriended Starling Marte a few years back, and even now, Roman has a tough time picking his favorite Pirates player. Is it Esmerlyn Valdez after meeting him at Baseball Card Castle in Cranberry? Or Paul Skenes, Konnor Griffin, Oneil Cruz or Bubba Chandler?

Decisions, decisions.

“I like all of them,” Roman said.

Fair enough. But for the Senfts, baseball has been a way of life. Certainly a way to stay positive and sane throughout everything Roman endured this summer: the initial surgery, treatment at St. Jude’s, MRIs every two month to check progress and four pills every Monday delivering more nausea.

Yet baseball, especially the Pirates, has always represented a break, a way for kids and parents to bond over a common cause, to have fun.

It’s why the Senfts can’t wait to soak up the (deserved) red-carpet treatment on Tuesday, to meet players, agonize over the pierogy race and celebrate Roman’s ability to … yes, play ball.

“Baseball is part of our lives. It’s what I can do for my boys where they’ll never say no to me,” Denise said, laughing. “It’s become a thing for us. If it’s a Wednesday and I don’t have anything going on at work, I’ll take off and pick one of my kids up from school.

“It’s our tradition and family time. It’s where we can always be together. It’s not forced. After time, you know these teenagers don’t want to hang out with their parents. But when you say, ‘Hey, you wanna go to a Buccos game? They’re like, ‘Oh my God, yeah.’ ”

This one will be a little different, of course. But everyone involved just wants to see the Senfts, especially Roman, have a blast. It’s richly deserved.

“Out of this dreadful situation, it’s just a special thing,” Denise said. “I’m really happy Roman is feeling the love and doing something that he’s going to remember forever.”

Jason Mackey: Jason.Mackey@pirates.com and @JMackey_PGH on X.