BELGRADE — This weekend marks the 13th annual Veterans Memorial Softball Classic, an event that brings together the top high school players across the state to represent a cause that is much bigger than themselves.
Tournament director and founder Jim Matter says this is the best softball you'll see in the state of Montana.
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"To be able to honor veterans at the same time makes (it) a really heartfelt occasion as well," Matter said. "And you just can't beat the atmosphere that it brings."
This year's tournament includes four Belgrade players who all are first-year participants.
Senior Brooke Stump was in the parking lot of Belgrade High School when her coach called to tell her the news that she made it.
"It was really exciting," Stump said. "I went to my grandpa's house to tell him, and he was very excited. He jumped up and was very happy for me."
Junior Kinna Griffis appreciated the location of the event.
"I think it's really cool that they're doing it in Belgrade because I feel like that just brings our community together more," Griffis said.
Emerson Gunther, a senior from Laurel High School, is entering her third year playing in the tournament.
"It's really cool to be here, especially since I've had family in the Navy and the Marines," Gunther said. "It's very cool to go and represent them now."
The tournament gives the young players an opportunity to be a part of something very meaningful.
Matter says there's a strong correlation between his military experience and what the players experience this weekend in mixing players from different towns together.
"When I went in, I was with a battalion full of kids from all across the country that I never knew, and we had to all come together and be a part of something that was bigger than ourselves," Matter said. "I see that in these teams and these players in these games, and that really means the world to me."
Gunther appreciates the ceremony that is held on Friday night of the yearly event.
"We get to walk out and support one of the Marines that has died and sacrificed their life," Gunther said. "I think it's honestly really cool to listen to their story and who they are and what they've done for us."
Griffis echoed this sentiment.
"There's nothing that we can do to obviously like live up to what he did for us," Griffis said of a Coast Guard member being honored. "But we can play as hard as we possibly can to try and show that we appreciate what he did for our country."
Matter says the support of the players and their families year in and year out has made the tournament into what it is today.
"It's just unbelievable what it has become," Matter said. "It's honestly bigger than the game of softball and bigger than anything we ever could have imagined."
The second day of games begins on Saturday at 8 a.m. and the championship game will be played at 5:30 p.m.
