Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Athletics

Embry-Riddle Softball Head Coach Kelsi Dunne announced the signing of Esperanza "Essie" Bass to a National Letter of Intent on Monday. Bass was teamed up with the ERAU softball program through Team IMPACT.
 
Bass is a 13-year-old from Palm Coast who loves softball and played the sport prior to her diagnosis in February 2016 of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia, a rare blood-cell cancer that begins in the bone marrow. When she was diagnosed, her white blood cell count was 315,000; the normal range is 4,000-15,000. CML is a rare form of leukemia, which effects only about 1 out of 100,000 people, and is usually found in adults aged 35-64. Bass receives chemotherapy treatment once a day and suffers from chronic joint pain, low stamina, and fatigue. However, that doesn't stop her from living her energetic lifestyle.

In addition to having a passion for the sport of softball, Bass enjoys going to the beach with her family and watching her favorite television show, Cops. Some of the things she has on her bucket list are taking a trip to New York to visit Times Square and going on a Disney cruise.