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Haddonfield's Charlie Clarke hasn't let cystic fibrosis slow him down

Haddonfield baseball star Charlie Clarke did something special at the ballpark. His coach was amazed. But Clarke didn't make a diving catch in center field, steal a base or rope a game-winning hit to the gap.

Haddonfield baseball star Charlie Clarke did something special at the ballpark.

His coach was amazed.

But Clarke didn't make a diving catch in center field, steal a base or rope a game-winning hit to the gap.

The senior stood up in front of a room filled with more than 200 people and spoke from the heart about his appreciation for their contributions to his special cause.

"I couldn't believe it," Haddonfield coach Bob Bickel said. "Here was this young guy and he handled himself so well in front of so many people."

Clarke and his family have been hosting "Charlie's Fight Night" to raise money for research for Cystic Fibrosis since he was diagnosed with the disease at the age of 6.

For the last eight years, the event has been held at the Diamond Club at Citizens Bank Park.

But last September was the first time that Clarke stood up and let people know how much their support has meant to him.

"I wasn't too nervous," Clarke said on Thursday, after Haddonfield's South Jersey Group 2 playoff game against rival Audubon was postponed until Friday. "I took a couple of public-speaking classes . . . I didn't feel too much pressure. I knew everybody there.

"It was just a fun night."

Clarke said the annual event is "a big part of my life" and a way for him to pay forward much of the care and support that he has received as he has dealt with his medical situation.

Clarke makes no concessions to his condition and asks for none, either.

"It doesn't change things as much as people think," Clarke said. "I've gotten used to it."

Clarke said he "takes a couple pills" with meals, uses an inhaler a few times a day, watches his diet and drinks a lot of fluids. He said he has been able to lead a normal, active lifestyle.

"He never complains, doesn't ask for anything special," Bickel said. "He's such a great kid, a true leader on the team.

"If I need a bucket of balls, he'll go run and get it. He's not above anything."

Clarke has put together the best baseball season of his career as a senior.

He's batting .478 with 10 doubles and has scored 26 runs for the No. 6 team in The Inquirer Top 10.

Haddonfield (22-4) is the Colonial Conference Liberty Division champion and the No. 1 seed in the South Jersey Group 2 tournament.

"Ever since we were little we've been a great group of baseball players and we've always been looking forward to our senior year,' Clarke said of his classmates. "We've really exceeded our expectations.

"Our hitting has been spectacular, one through nine. Everything just worth of clicking."

Bickel said Clarke has been "unbelievable this season," both in terms of his production and leadership.

"He's taken control of the outfield," Bickel said of the centerfielder.

Clarke, a three-year varsity player, said his improvement this season has been related to his approach at the plate.

"I've taken control my own at-bats and have tried not to let pitcher control my at bats," Clarke said. "I'm just trying to stay aggressive and have fun. It's a ton of fun playing with my classmates."

Clarke plans to attend Gettysburg and play baseball. He said he might study something in the health sciences or engineering.

He said his diagnosis was "a shock" to his parents but that his family has been determined to deal "head-on" with his condition.

"I was always an active kid from the time I started playing sports when I was four," Clarke said. "I never let this slow me down, ever.

"I've been really lucky that way. I know how bad this disease can be and how lucky I am."

panastasia@phillynews.com

@PhilAnastasia

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