The Stamford community is remembering a student-athlete freshman at Sacred Heart University and his lasting impact on the local baseball community.

It has been an emotional few weeks for the Bancroft family and the people who knew their son.

Kyle Bancroft was a huge Yankees fan and looked forward to watching Juan Soto on opening day.

He loved the game of baseball and as friends and family said, didn't let anything stop him from playing the game he loved.

Stamford High School baseball coach Mike Summa remembered Bancroft as “every coach’s dream.”

"There were good days, there were bad days, but for him, every day was a good day that he was at the baseball field," said Summa.

Bancroft was diagnosed in 2020 with Ewing sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer.

"He never talked about what he was going through because at that time, for two or three hours, he was a member of the Stamford high baseball team trying to get hits,” Summa said. “He was a member of the Stamford legion team trying to do his best for the team."

Despite his diagnosis, Bancroft earned a spot on the varsity roster while undergoing chemotherapy.

Scoring a fantastic home run during his senior season.

"It's a cliche but life is short. The hope is that every single kid can learn from his work ethic and his desire to be a good teammate," Summa said.

"He knew the rule was if you don't practice, you don't play, and he didn't want any special considerations or anything like that,” said Bancroft’s father, Scott Bancroft.

His parents say they want to raise awareness to help find a cure for Ewing sarcoma and other kinds of cancer.

The Stamford High baseball team is dedicating the upcoming season to Bancroft.

The Black Knights will wear special stickers on their helmets and bats when they take the field on Saturday for the season opener.