CHICAGO -- When treatment left Corinne Irwin too weak to do much else, she was happy to at least be able to watch the Nationals. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012 and endured five surgeries, 18 weeks of chemotherapy and six weeks of radiation.
Irwin went through her treatment at the same time the Nationals were making a run at their first National League East championship, which helped her form a connection to the team. Irwin has now been cancer-free for four years and is the Nationals winner of the 2016 Honorary Bat Girl contest, which recognizes baseball fans affected by breast cancer who have shown a commitment to fighting against the disease.