Tourney an annual softball tribute

Posted: Friday, April 20, 2012 12:00 pm

By RANDY CAVIN
Press Sports
A special tournament takes place once a year in Martin and that time has arrived with the Maddie Memorial Tournament.
Westview will be the host school with the Lady Chargers joining 11 other softball teams in the fourth annual tournament.
Even though this is just the fourth year of the tournament, it has not always been called the Maddie Memorial Tournament. Before the name change, it was called the Delta Border Wars.
The name of the tournament was changed in 2008 to honor Madison Fagan.
She was a Martin Middle School softball player who was struck by lightning on Sept. 16, 2006, while she was selling coupon books for a school fund raiser.
Westview won the tournament in 2010 and in 2011. Many of the girls on that team also played with Madison in middle school or in summer league games.
“We are excited to be playing in this tournament to honor Madison because of how great of a friend and softball player she was,” the Westview softball team said. “The tournament is a reminder for all the lives she changed just by saying ‘good game’ and giving the opponents a big smile.
“This tournament gives us a way to represent Madison in a sense of pride, sportsmanship and honor. She was more than a friend and teammate; she was a role model. Madison played a huge part in our lives and we think that the Maddie Memorial Tournament is an outstanding way for people to learn and understand how great of an all-around girl she was.”
Lady Charger star pitcher Meagan Prince played with Madison and was also best of friends with her.
“I miss Madison very much, and not a day goes by that I do not think of her,” she said “I have played ball with Madison since T-ball and ever since we were inseparable. She was my best friend and also my catcher. We had a great team. Although I miss Madison, I am happy to think about the way she has influenced both my life and many others.”
Tournament director J.B. Suiter says it is with great honor that Westview is the host school for the tournament that honors the memory Madison.
“The school is humbled and honored to hopefully help carry on the memory of a young lady who impacted many of the girls that are on this current team,” he said. “Just mentioning Madison’s name to those who knew her brings a smile to their faces.”
A portion of the proceeds will go to the Maddie Memorial Scholarship Fund this year as it has previous years.
Lady Charger players who qualify will be given the scholarship. Mary Kirk Mesimer and Shaylon Robb were the recipients last year.
“The Maddie Memorial Scholarship is set up to impact as many lives as possible, and we honor our graduating seniors with it at the conclusion of each season,” Suiter said. “It is a great and emotional honor for the players to receive this because it stands for the hard work and dedication Madison put into her sports and to her life.”
The tournament is set to begin Friday at the Martin Parks and Recreation softball complex with the first game starting at 4:45.
Westview is the only Weakley County team in this year’s tournament. The Lady Chargers will play their first game in the pool play against Crockett County at 6 p.m. Friday in field No. 4. This will also count as a district game for both teams.
Westview will then play Camden at 7:45 in the same field. The Lady Chargers will play on Saturday at 9 a.m. against St. Agnes out of Memphis in field No. 4.
Other teams include; Milan, East Lawrence out of Alabama, Bartlett, Huntingdon, South Gibson, South Fulton, Dyersburg and Trenton. Published in The WCP 4.19.12