Brendan Grant Memorial Tournament Begins May 28

The Marauders will honor Brendan Grant this weekend by hosting the sixth annual Brendan Grant Memorial Baseball Tournament, beginning Friday, May 28.

Grant, a star baseball player and wrestler at Belmont High School, died on June 27, 2001, during a Senior Babe Ruth game at the field that now bears his name. Then a 19-year-old rising sophomore at American International College, Grant, playing left field, collided with the center fielder on a routine fly ball and died from resulting injuries.

"It happened nine years ago," said coach Jim Brown, who was at the game but left before the accident, "but [Grant] still has a profound affect on these kids, this program."

The players still wear the former captain's initials, "B.G.," on their caps.

Belmont (11-7) opens the tournament on Friday at 2:30 p.m., squaring off against league-foe Winchester, whom they beat earlier this year. Following that game, Austin Prep, of the Catholic Central League will play Lynnfield, of the Cape Ann League at approximately 4:30 p.m.

The losers will play at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 29, with the championship game scheduled for 2 p.m.

All four teams are above .500 and have already qualified for their respective postseason tournaments. Brown said he would like to see his team gain momentum heading into the Division 2 North tournament, which begins Thursday, June 3.

"The more we win, the more confident we are, the better off we'll be," he said. "I want us to start playing mistake-free baseball before the state tournament begins."

Belmont could also secure a home playoff game with two wins this weekend.

In addition to the memorial tournament, family and friends have established the Brendan Grant Foundation, which is dedicated to enhancing youth development, and the Brendan Grant Scholarship, a need-based scholarship given to members of the varsity baseball, softball and wrestling teams each year.

The foundation has also established a 5-kilometer road race and wrestling tournament. The ninth annual Brendan's Home Run 5K Race and Walk will take place Sunday, June 20, at Belmont High School. The wrestling tournament is held in January.

It also funded the renovation of the high school's baseball field and has contributed to various local sports teams since its inception in 2001.

Brown said there will be a donation jar for Grant's charities at the tournament.

"The foundation has been so generous in supporting baseball," he said. "This gives us a chance to give back."

More information about the foundation can be found at www.brendangrant.org.