SUNDAY SPECIAL | CALLING THE GAME OF HIS LIFE

CROWN POINT | In the big inning, God created Mike Sirbas.

While not exactly what any holy writ says, the above thought is shared by the hundreds involved in the Crown Point Girls Softball League and the thousands of people who've known the 56-year-old Sirbas, who is smiling despite being in a fight for his life.

The Hessville native has Stage 4 colon cancer. He has a tumor on his liver. When Sirbas was diagnosed in January, his doctors told him he'd be lucky to survive a year. Yet, he umpires eight games a week in Crown Point, where he now lives. Every other week he has a chemotherapy drip device underneath his chest protector, which provides medicine while he works on the diamonds.

Being in an ump's uniform, on the diamond, is medicine for Sirbas, too.

"When I'm out here with the kids I'm trying to do the Lord's work," said Sirbas, a devout Christian who is the chairman of deacons at Cedar Lake's Community Bible Church. "Whatever his plan is for my life, I'm OK with it.

"This sickness is my storm. He has walked with me through every storm in my life."

The 1971 Hammond Tech grad always loved sports, playing fast-pitch games at the Civic Center for years. When his family moved from Lansing to Crown Point, everything changed.

He became an active member of the C.P.G.S.L. He coached every team possible. His fun-loving way led hundreds of girls to a greater understanding of the sport.

"He was the most patient, most understanding coach in our league," said Vince Rock, the league president. "He was known for giving the kids 'The Bear Hug.' If they did good, he'd hug them. If they were struggling, he'd hug them. The kids loved to give him a 'Bear Hug.'"

In 1998, Nickelodeon heard about Sirbas' coaching methods and brought cameras to C.P. to do a video.

"They loved what they saw," Rock said. "Mike brings fun back to the game."

Dwight Ard met Sirbas five years ago, when he registered his daughter to play in the C.P.G.S.L. The two have coached together, and become great friends.

"He's like my second father," Ard said. "He invited our family into his."

Ard had two daughters who played. He pushed them to excel. Maybe, at times, he pushed too hard.

"My daughter was pitching and I was talking to her," Ard said. "He could tell it was bothering her. He came along and said, 'You leave her alone. She's doing fine.'

"It's hard to be competitive and caring. He found a way to do both."

Brittany Ard, 12, knows how much joy Sirbas brings to the field.

"When we field ground balls, he did it in a fun way," Brittany said. "If we made a good play he would do the 'Happy Dance.' He turns around in circles and goes back and forth. He's fun, nice."

At a game last week, Sirbas induced the fans to do the wave. If a girl made a nifty play, he'd give her a high-five. At the end of the game, he gave high-fives to every player.

"That's what the game is all about," he said. "It's fun. If it isn't, something isn't right."

In youth leagues across America, problems exist. Egos collide. The win-at-all-cost mind-set evaporates enthusiasm. Parents living through their kids' successes and failures can lose control. Sirbas has seen this in C.P.

But his storm has changed the weather.

"Before, people would bicker and argue," he said. "Now, when I walk around, it stops."

Sirbas' wife, Penny, remembers last winter, with the cold and stormy winds. She recalls the doctor visits and changing prognosis, which went from "OK to a little worse to even more worse."

"It was something you didn't want to hear," she said.

But their faith in God and the best of mankind keeps a smile and positive spirit in their lives.

"He knows the girls are watching him," Penny said. "When younger eyes are on you, you set a good example."

The medicine seems to be working. His CEA count -- a measure of a protein found in many types of cancer cells -- was 30 when he was initially diagnosed. In his most recent exam it was down to 1.9. The drop in CEA may mean his cancer is responding to treatment.

Sirbas has good days and bad ones.

But every day at the park is a great one.

"It's all about the kids and the fun they can have playing," Sirbas said. "For me, nothing has changed since I got sick. My days were in the Lord's hand before, just like I know they are now. I have no fear."