Lori Baur was sitting alone in the New York Yankees dugout in Yankee Stadium before a May 19 game against the Tampa Bay Rays, waiting for her once in a lifetime chance to throw out the first pitch as Honorary Bat Girl. It was part of the package after winning an essay contest sponsored by Major League Baseball to recognize fans who have been stricken by breast cancer and demonstrated a commitment to raise awareness.

The 40-year-old Sleepy Hollow resident was mesmerized by a nearby batting helmet of Yankee captain Derek Jeter, one of her favorite players. Suddenly, Jeter appeared next to her, and her emotions got the best of her.

“When he was towering over me, I started crying,” she said. “I did eventually pull it together and got some autographs. It was everything that I could imagine and more. It’s something I still haven’t processed. It hasn’t sunk in yet that it happened.”

In 2002, Baur was diagnosed with the early stage of breast cancer after discovering a lump in her right armpit. She had no family history of breast cancer, but in 2007, when the cancer recurred, she learned she carried a gene mutation that was high risk. Two years later, the cancer spread to her brain, liver, kidney, lungs and bones and is considered incurable. The average life span with Baur’s condition is two years.

She credits the support of family and friends who rallied behind her after she lost her career at New York University and her ability to have children with keeping her spirits up.

“I lost everything but my family and friends. They all kind of lifted me up through their generosity,” she said. “It made me realize I had to enjoy the time I had.”

Baur entered herself into the two-year-old contest MLB runs with the Susan G. Komen for the Cure grassroots network, which last year provided more than $60 million for breast screenings, treatment and research. Nearly 1,000 testimonials were submitted online and one winner for each of the 30 Major League teams was selected by a celebrity panel of judges and more than four million fan votes.

“To hear how those survivors have overcome the shock and fear of a diagnosis and then dedicate themselves to bringing awareness to this disease and raising funds for research and community programs is incredible,” said Katrina McGhee, a senior vice president at Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

“I thought I had a good chance,” Baur said of her chances of winning. “I was definitely extremely excited and happy. The Yankees organization itself is a really class act. The players were just so nice.”

Baur threw the ceremonial first pitch, a strike, she noted, to Nick Swisher, who she maintained may now be sharing the limelight with Jeter as her favorite player. She also was ecstatic to meet Yankee pitcher C.C. Sabathia, who was one of the judges that selected her.

“I just wanted to thank him. I jumped up and almost jumped into his arms and gave him a big hug,” she said.

After throwing out the first pitch and delivering the lineup card to the umpires at home plate, Baur and her husband, Fredi Meli, watched the game in field level seats. She was also interviewed on radio and the YES Network.

“It was amazing,” she said.

Anyone interested in helping Baur defray medical and other expenses can send a donation to Lori Baur or Alfred Meli c/o Mahopac National Bank, Sleepy Hollow Division, 49 Beekman Avenue, Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591.