Recordpub.com - Tourney to honor Ben Dillon Portage native killed in Iraq

By Tom Nader

Record-Courier sports editor

Linda Dillon remembers when her son Ben would be the first to find the mud on a baseball field.

She recalls when Ben helped pick the rocks off fields one by one as Edinburg Township was constructing its new baseball fields.

She also recollects all the great friendships Ben was able to create by playing the game of baseball.

For Linda, and her husband, Terry, the memories are strong of their son, who was killed during his fourth Middle East tour in Northern Iraq on Oct. 7, 2007.

Now, Ben's baseball memories will live on forever throughout Portage County with the newly named Ben Dillon Memorial Classic.

The early-bird baseball tournament will take place on April 16-20 and will feature H-League and G-League Hot Stove baseball teams from Portage South.

All proceeds from the tournament will be dedicated to the Ben Dillon Memorial Scholarship fund.

"There is no question that this brings a great feeling for not just me, but the entire Edinburg Hot Stove Board," said Jason Proctor, who is the board's president. "The entire board felt it was appropriate to name the tournament after Ben based on how much baseball meant to him and his family.

"The board approved the idea unanimously," Proctor said.

It definitely is a fitting connection, according to Linda.

"Ben spent a lot of years and a lot of his time in Hot Stove," she said. "He attended a tremendous amount of games for his two older brothers, then was a player and then became an umpire. There is no doubt that baseball has been a very big part of our family's lives."

As acting president, Proctor said the intentions of the entire Edinburg Hot Stove Board is to forever keep the tournament named in honor of Ben Dillon.

Other acting Edinburg Hot Stove board members include vice president Mike Stankiewicz, softball director Wendi Stankiewicz, equipment manager Ron Tarter, secretary Laura Tarter, field director Doug Dillon, treasurer Jennifer Corby and concession manager Kris Proctor.

Adding to the tournament's special opening-day atmosphere will be the inclusion of a first pitch thrown by Kenny Dillon, who is Ben's cousin and a player that will be participating in the tournament.

During Kenny's first pitch, standing behind him, will be Dillon family members in attendance.

"Kenny really is an outstanding pitcher, and I think it will be a great moment in his life," Proctor said. "It will be a very touching moment for all."

And based on the county-wide support for the Dillon family since Ben Dillon's death, a considerable number of fans could be in attendance.

"The amount of support our family has received not only from Edinburg, but the entire county, has been remarkable," Linda Dillon said. "As a family, we have been extremely gracious."

The Dillon family is also hosting a dinner and raffle on April 12 at Southeast High School with all proceeds going towards the Ben Dillon Scholarship fund. The event will be from 5 to 7:30 p.m.