by Scott Sacry, Sports Editor
Cash Lawrence of Hamilton won the 2025 Gatorade Montana Baseball Player of the Year award. As part of the award, Lawrence got to choose a local organization to receive a $1000 grant in his name. Lawrence chose to award his grant to the Play Like Robert Foundation to help them accomplish their mission of connecting people through learning, play, and the courage to try.
Lawrence presented the check to the Leonardi family during the opening ceremonies of the Bitterroot Red Sox versus Bitterroot Bucs baseball game on July 19, 2025. Robert’s mother, Alyce Leonardi, threw out the opening pitch at the game, and kids ran the bases with the players in between games. “It was a beautiful evening to celebrate Cash, baseball, and Robert’s spirit,” said Alyce Leonardi.
Hamilton’s Cash Lawrence awards a $1000 grant to the Leonardi family for the Play Like Robert Foundation on July 19th. Lawrence won the 2025 Gatorade Montana Baseball Player of the Year award, as part of the award, Lawrence got to donate $1000 to a local charity. Photo by Hope Earp.
All 610 Gatorade State Player of the Year recipients are awarded a $1,000 grant to donate to a social impact partner. To date, the Gatorade Player of the Year program has provided more than $5.6 million in grants to winners across more than 2,000 organizations.
“Cash Lawrence’s mother, Crystal, contacted me and explained how Cash chose the Play Like Robert Foundation to receive the $1,000 grant. I was ecstatic,” said Leonardi. “We were so thankful and pleased that Robert’s spirit and memory continue to touch the members of our community.”
Gatorade Player of the Year winners showcase the power of sport, touting an all-star group of alumni that includes Peyton Manning, Jayson Tatum, Mallory Swanson and Paige Bueckers. To learn more about the program, visit playeroftheyear.gatorade.com.
“I chose this foundation because it has been in my life for a good bit of time and the grant would allow them to continue providing for youth sports,” said Cash Lawrence.
“Youth involved in sports have seen significant improvements in physical and mental health, academic performance and future career success,” said Leonardi. “We at Play Like Robert Foundation are committed to helping youth in the Bitterroot Valley and throughout Montana reap these benefits.”
Last year, Corvallis’s Olivia Lewis won the 2024 Gatorade Montana Girls Track & Field Player of the Year award. Lewis also chose to give her grant to the Play Like Robert Foundation.
“We are so lucky to have two kids in two years donate to the foundation and to win Gatorade player of the year,” said Leonardi.
In 2024, the Play Like Robert Foundation gave away $50,000 to local organizations who impact youth and their next project is dedicated to building safe pedestrian and biking paths throughout Hamilton. To learn more, visit www.playlikerobert.org.