Marlton Community Teams Up with Philadelphia Phillies to #GoToBat4Toby

Toby Mizrachi a fifth grader at Marlton Elementary School and 10-year-old Marlton Baseball Travel player, was recently diagnosed with cancer and is now undergoing his second week of intensive chemotherapy. Little did Toby know that on Thursday night, while home from the hospital during a brief respite, the young slugger and big-time Phillies fan received a huge surprise outside his front door as his teammates, classmates and community, as well as the Phillies, secretly gathered to show their support in a #GoToBat4Toby Pep Rally Parade.

The surprise lead off with Phillies ambassador Scott Palmer, who knocked on Toby’s door and brought the guest of honor and his family outside the home, including his 8-year-old brother Micah, parents Ilyse and Ari, grandmother Sandy Rubin and aunt Dana Rubin. There they met Toby’s baseball coach Steven Chiarella and best friends from his team and neighborhood (Anthony Chiarella, Brian Ford, Jonathan Romeo and Tyler and Aiden Siitonen), who presented their buddy with his very own Phillies jersey, signed by all his teammates.

With the help of the Evesham Police and Fire/Rescue Departments, the Phillie Phanatic made a grand entrance to be by Toby’s side. Arriving shortly after was the Phillies broadcaster Ben Davis and 1993 National League champion Mickey Morandini, who lead an 80+ car parade featuring Toby’s fellow fifth graders, ballplayers, teachers and synagogue members waving rally towels and #GoToBat4Toby posters, organized in part by the Marlton Elementary School PTA.

Photos by Miles Kennedy/Philadelphia Phillies