James Dodge Memorial Tournament
MERIDIAN- "James played baseball his whole life, that's what he breathed for," said his mother Angie Beberness, who created the James Dodge Memorial Tournament in 2003.
James was killed in a car accident in June of 2003 on his way to a tournament in Minico. At the time of his death, he had just been accepted to NAIA power Lewis-Clark State.
"He was very excited about that," said Beberness, whose son's life was tragically cut short at the age of 18.
James Dodge loved baseball, and his friends and family loved him. So it seemed only natural to keep that connection going.
"After James' accident, my family and I, in July or August, we got together and we went camping for the weekend," said Beberness. "One night we were just sitting around talking about what we should do as a memorial. My brother said what do you think about putting together a tournament? And it just ballooned from there."
Now in its fourth year, the James Dodge Memorial Tournament has raised more than $20,000, which is given out in the form of yearly scholarhips for baseball players going on to college.
"We don't just give out one a year," adds Beberness. "We give out as many as we can...We've given out seven so far."
All in James' name, to celebrate his life and his love for baseball.
"I think he would be very pleased with it," she says. "He understood the dream of college baseball so I think he would be very pleased that we're helping people get there."
The eight teams in this year's tournament are Boise, Meridian, Eagle, Madison, Minico, Idaho Falls, Pocatello, and a team from Nevada. The tournament runs Thursday through Sunday at Mo Brooks Field in Meridian.
James was killed in a car accident in June of 2003 on his way to a tournament in Minico. At the time of his death, he had just been accepted to NAIA power Lewis-Clark State.
"He was very excited about that," said Beberness, whose son's life was tragically cut short at the age of 18.
James Dodge loved baseball, and his friends and family loved him. So it seemed only natural to keep that connection going.
"After James' accident, my family and I, in July or August, we got together and we went camping for the weekend," said Beberness. "One night we were just sitting around talking about what we should do as a memorial. My brother said what do you think about putting together a tournament? And it just ballooned from there."
Now in its fourth year, the James Dodge Memorial Tournament has raised more than $20,000, which is given out in the form of yearly scholarhips for baseball players going on to college.
"We don't just give out one a year," adds Beberness. "We give out as many as we can...We've given out seven so far."
All in James' name, to celebrate his life and his love for baseball.
"I think he would be very pleased with it," she says. "He understood the dream of college baseball so I think he would be very pleased that we're helping people get there."
The eight teams in this year's tournament are Boise, Meridian, Eagle, Madison, Minico, Idaho Falls, Pocatello, and a team from Nevada. The tournament runs Thursday through Sunday at Mo Brooks Field in Meridian.
More to Explore
Learn about changes coming to commenting