Local boy’s spirit lives on through baseball tournament – wlfi.com
Dozens of teams ventured out for the Jimmy DeBoy Classic Baseball Tournament. The 10th annual event honors the late Jimmy DeBoy who was killed by an impaired driver in 2006 (WLFI).
LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) — Dozens of teams ventured out this weekend for the DeBoy Classic Baseball Tournament. The 10th annual event honors the late Jimmy DeBoy, a Lafayette boy who was killed by an impaired driver in 2006.
Lafayette Lightning baseball player Leo Bordenet has loved the game of baseball since he was 4 years old.
He said he played on Sunday to honor DeBoy.
“Jimmy holds the memory of me just playing baseball,” said Bordenet. “And playing the sport I love and playing the sport he loved.”
DeBoy was 9 years old when he was killed while riding a bicycle down a neighborhood sidewalk in July of 2006.
“He was with some family members and friends,” said Jimmy’s uncle and godfather, Dan Dienhart. “And an impaired driver jumped the sidewalk and ran Jimmy over.”
Even though ten years have passed since Jimmy’s death, his spirit lives on through the ballgame he loved.
“When Jimmy was taken from us far too early, we got together and decided what better way to honor him than play a game he loves,” said Dienhart.
More than 30 teams all over the Midwest came to play ball in the DeBoy Classic.
Players hit their hardest and tried their best not to strike out during the weekend-long tournament.
Ryan DeBoy threw out the first pitch during the opening ceremony on Friday as a way to honor his brother,
“It means a lot, not only to me but to my family and to see the game not only that I love but that he loved to,” said Ryan DeBoy. “It brings a smile to my face.”
Proceeds from the classic help upkeep Field 51 on Central Catholic High School’s campus. The ballpark was built in Jimmy’s honor and named after his favorite number — 51.
“Fifty-one was just a number that Jimmy always wore in honor of Ichiro Suzuki, who was his favorite player,” said Dienhart.
As players wrapped up Sunday, Jimmy’s family hopes they go home with one message.
“There’s a lot more to life than if you struck out at the end of the game or whether you hit that ball over the fence,” said Dienhart.
