MLB player attends benefit breakfast for Branford coach

BRANFORD, Conn. (WTNH) --  Some big hitters in the world of baseball came together in Branford Wednesday morning to help a man who changed a lot of young lives for the better.

One reason folks came out for the benefit breakfast was to see Branford native Mike Olt. He made it to the big leagues last year, and is about to begin his second year with the Texas Rangers.

"Going into the off-season I was able to work on a couple things I learned while I was up in the big leagues, and it's really helped me," Olt said.

Olt came to the breakfast to help his former coach, George Dummar. The Branford High baseball coach is fighting brain cancer.

"George is a big reason that I am where I am today," Olt said. "He taught me a lot in high school. He's an unbelievable guy and he's done a lot for Branford and I'd do anything to help him."

Olt and his college coach, UConn's Jim Penders, lent their star power to a Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce Breakfast to raise funds for Dummar.

"George is a great coach and a great person and is all about the kids," Penders said, "and if we can honor him and help in any way, I want to be a part of it."

Dummar has received plenty of support, and not just from Branford.

"You see Bob DiMeo here, he's won a thousand games in North Haven," said Branford Athletic Director Jake Palluzzi. "You see Coach Guley from Quinnipiac, you see coach Penders here. He's a special person."

Palluzzi says Dummar is getting better. Olt says the same thing.

"The last I heard 15 percent of it got better, so that's at least positive news, and if anybody's going to beat it, it's going to be George," Olt said.

The hope is Dummar will be strong enough to maybe come see his former star player now that he's in the big leagues.