A fallen teammate is being remembered this weekend as the Victoria Mariners host the second annual Zack Downey Memorial Tournament at Layritz Park.
Langford native Downey, who loved baseball perhaps more than any of the sports he played, passed away in May 2014 of non-Hodgkins lymphoma. The ball club instituted the tournament and a scholarship in his name last year.
This year’s fall ball event will see two divisions, one for senior premier teams and another for bantam squads.
Play gets underway today as five bantam teams, including the hosts; and six senior squads, including the Mariners and Victoria Eagles, begin the quest for their respective trophies.
Both divisions will play six-inning championship games on Sunday, the bantams at 1:30 p.m. and the seniors at 3 p.m.
A special ceremony will take place Sunday just before the senior final. The Mariners club will present the Downey family with a bronze memorial plaque that will have a permanent home at the Mariners’ home field, Henderson Park.
For a full list of game times for both divisions, visit victoriamariners.com and find the Zack Downey Tournament listed under the schedules drop-down bar.
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
