ORANGE, Calif. — It was March 31, 2016. A five-year-old boy wearing sunglasses and a Chapman baseball shirt, his little sister, a toddler at the time, his mother and father all waltzed up the ramp just outside Hart Park, the home of Chapman Baseball. With their tacos in hand from the Mexican restaurant Rubio's, the family of four just wanted to put a spark back into their son. 

He was fighting leukemia, receiving treatment not even five minutes down the road at Children's Hospital Orange County (CHOC). This practice was the start of a revolution. Carter's parent, Tim and Jamie Ankeny initially saw it as "the first event they could put on the calendar other than a doctor's appointment, since he was diagnosed," J. Ankeny said. 

Little did they know. 

The partnership between the baseball program and the Ankeny family began when the nonprofit Team IMPACT reached out. The organization's purpose is to "provides a safe, supportive, and encouraging environment for a child suffering from a life threatening illness or ailment and their family to connect with a college athletic team and local campus community," according to the nonprofit.

When the baseball program's head coach Scott Laverty found out about Carter's story, the partnership felt like the final piece to a magical puzzle. 

Over the next year and a half, Carter gained roughly 35 new "teammates, " as he wholesomely referred to the Chapman baseball roster, and fell back in love with baseball. 

"We then started going out to as many games as we could," J. Ankeny recalls. "He was integrated into every aspect of the team. He would wait patiently until he could run the bases and do running drills. He would do the speed gun (to measure how fast the athletes pitched). He would be in the dugout at games giving high fives."

It was like clock work. After Carter went through chemotherapy treatments at CHOC, his family came out to practice on Thursday evenings. Often times, people imagine someone being fatigued by the intense treatments, but it was different for Carter. 

The moment he stepped on the field, he was home.

"It was our first time setting foot on a baseball field again since he had been diagnosed," J. Ankeny said. "The joy he was exuding from his body, every pore was elated to be on this field."

For a year and a half straight, Carter showed off his Chapman teammates in the hallways of the outpatient center at CHOC when they came to visit. The Ankenys hosted the players at their home on Friday nights, where their son would beat them in video games, they'd order pizza and watch The Sandlot-- up until the final days. 

Carter ended up passing away at six years old due to complications related to his treatment on Oct. 7, 2017. But Carter is here. 

Carter Is...

Almost a decade to the day after his first practice, the Ankeny family now advocates under Carter Strong Forever where they raise money in his honor. Their ultimate goal is for the funds to go towards research to find a non-chemo cure to leukemia. As of mid-March 2026, they've raised over $150,000 towards the CHOC Foundation and $270,000 towards the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation (PCRF). Their partnership with the baseball program has also endured, in part, because of Laverty. 

"What we are trying to do with Pediatric Cancer brings the light to it still," Laverty says. "Anyone that ever asks, me, what Team IMPACT is, how our experience has been with them, Carter and his family, I always say that it was one of the best things I ever did." 

Jamie, Tim and Taylor still fund raise and spread awareness at baseball games and events. Their black shirts have the bright yellow Carter Strong Forever logo on it which can be seen from across the ball park. Tim and Jamie have personalized Vans with the PCRF ribbons and the CHOC hospital logos. They have tables set up with filled to the brim with orange 'Carter Strong Forever' bracelets, shirts and sweatshirts. Their son's tiny number five jersey, which is still covered in grass and dirt stains because it's never really been washed, still hangs in the dug out each game. 

They show up proud, because Hart Park is Carter's home. 

"For Carter, the teammate they never got to meet, he is still part of this team," Ti. Ankeny said. "10 years later, the sense of community has endured."

The community showed out stronger than ever at Carter's funeral, which Chapman Athletics helped the Ankeny family host on campus at Memorial Hall. Nearly 750 people showed up. The baseball program sat in the front row wearing their jerseys with a thick yellow Carter Strong Forever patch on the arm sleeve. Chapman Interim Athletics Director Doug Aiken was the emcee. Laverty spoke as well. 

It was there where "Carter is..." was born. Laverty told the nearly standing-room-only crowd that while many may want to discuss who he was... he challenges them to say who he is. 

When asked who he is, three former baseball players, who were in the program from 2016-18, said the following: 

"Carter is my teammate," Andrew Mendonca said.

"Carter is one of us." Jarod Penniman said.

"Carter is somebody I want to be." Trevor Willits said. 

Mendonca, Penniman and Willits were some of Carter's closest teammates. They even came out to watch Carter play T-ball on March 18, 2017. At the time, he was in remission from his first bout with the disease, and it was his first time playing since the diagnosis. 

All three former players agreed that watching him play was "one of their favorite memories." 

Angel In the Outfield

The Ankeny family always made sure to return the favor, attending many games, including a 2018 SCIAC Tournament game against Redlands. Chapman was trailing 9-1 heading into the seventh inning. Then, like lightning in a bottle, their bats came to life. Chapman scored nine unanswered runs in the top of the seventh to take back a lead they would never relinquish. They went on to score another 10 runs in the last two innings. Chapman won the game 20-12, and went on to win the 2018 SCIAC Tournament Title. The whole time, Carter's white jersey hung in the dugout.

As the game wound down, Jamie and Tim say they looked out and saw a cloud in the shape of a heart. 

"Carter is their Angel in the outfield," J. Ankeny said. "It was special to know that he was there. They team still made sure that his jersey was in the dog pile. You can see it in every picture."

The Ankenys also flew out to Iowa to watch the team win the 2019 NCAA Division III College World Series. Once again, their Angel was in the outfield and his jersey was in the dugout. 

In 2026, Tim, Jamie and Taylor still attend Chapman games and practices, still fund raise for CHOC and PCRF at the team's annual Homerun Derby and still tell their son's story. At Chapman's annual Derby this year, Ti. and J. Ankeny posted about the event on Facebook groups for families also being treated at CHOC and battling similar illnesses. Gabriel and Priscilla Castro saw it, and decided to come out to support. Their son Bruno, who is just four years old, was diagnosed with cancer when he was two. At the event, Bruno was riding his mini bike alongside his big sister who was on her scooter. He was also wearing a bucket hat and chasing baseballs behind the batter's box. When his family met Laverty and the Ankenys it became abundantly clear: all the hard work? 

It's working. 

"It made me feel like we're making a difference," Laverty said. "We are trying to do something, we are trying to reach somebody."

"We met the Ankeny family and instantly had a connection," G. Castro shared. "They went through something we are also somewhat going through. It's like (Tim) is my friend without ever meeting him." 

G. Castro is also a massive Los Angeles Dodgers fan, so being at the baseball field felt like home. When Laverty realized the Castros were there, he was on the verge of tears. The Ankenys agreed they are forever grateful for the impact. They also wish they wouldn't have to meet families under the circumstances of a young child suffering from a life-threatening illness. But they feel it's a sign of their Angel in the outfield. 

When the Ankeny family speaks about their advocacy, people listen, especially the 2026 Chapman team. At a recent practice, Tim and Jamie told their story and handed out 'Carter Strong Forever' bracelets. With 52 eyes affixed on them, every player took a bracelet and listened intently as they heard about their forever teammate. With Tim gripping Carter's jersey tightly, the Ankenys reflect on the last 10 years, and what that jersey could say if it could talk now. 

"We hope the jersey has helped to motivate a lot of the guys, and continue the winning legacy," Ti. Ankeny said. "When Laverty recruits guys, he always tells this story. I think it helps to keep them grounded."

What Comes Next 

On March 31, the 10 year anniversary of Carter's first Chapman baseball practice, the Panthers will host a Pediatric Cancer Awareness Night during their exhibition game against Hope International. Taylor, who is now a 12-year-old sixth grader, almost taller than Jamie, will be there with her parents advocating and fund raising outside the Chapman dugout. In August, the work continues. The Ankeny family has been named the 2026 CHOC Walk Ambassadors. They will help host the annual CHOC Walk In the Park at the Disneyland Resort on Aug. 2, 2026. More information can be found on the Carter Strong Forever Instagram account and CHOC Foundation website. 

The baseball program will continue telling his story, wearing the Carter Strong Forever patch on their jerseys and the bracelets around their wrists. Carter's teammates and Laverty are the driving force that keeps the connection so strong. 

"I hope people just see the role these students can have in the community," Aiken said. "When our student athletes put themselves out there authentically, it can change lives." 

The Ankeny family remains focused on fundraising for a cure, telling their son's story as a 'forever six year old', and raising their pre-teen daughter in her passion as a dancer. All of it is in memory of their inspiration.

Carter Ankeny is forever here. The Angel in the outfield.