'Super meaningful': 4th annual Down Syndrome Awareness baseball tourney draws crowd

Sarah Best and Austin Chastain, Jackson Sun
Will Clark, 7 years old with Down syndrome, practices tossing a ball before he throws the first pitch during the WES's Game match in The Ball Park at Jackson, in Jackson, Tenn., on Thursday, March 21, 2024.
Will Clark, 7 years old with Down syndrome, practices tossing a ball before he throws the first pitch during the WES's Game match in The Ball Park at Jackson, in Jackson, Tenn., on Thursday, March 21, 2024.

The Down Syndrome Awareness Tournament returned to Jackson for its fourth year, aiming to educate and spread awareness about the spectrum of Down syndrome.

Sixteen high school baseball teams from across the region came to Rockabilly stadium to participate in the nearly week-long tournament benefitting the Down Syndrome Association of West Tennessee, beginning March 18 and culminating on March 23.

The tournament spawned in 2018 as the result of a collective dream between three fathers whose sons have Down Syndrome.

The theme of this year's tournament is dubbed "WES's Game," a homage to the initials of their three young boys the tournament was founded after: William, Eli and Sam.

The Pat Brown Rhythm Works Class performed a dance routine before WES's Game at The Ball Park at Jackson, in Jackson, Tenn., on Thursday, March 21, 2024.
The Pat Brown Rhythm Works Class performed a dance routine before WES's Game at The Ball Park at Jackson, in Jackson, Tenn., on Thursday, March 21, 2024.

Education is at the forefront of the cause according to co-founder Chris Clark.

"We have these blurbs that have been created to be read between innings and these are facts, these are stats, and things that can draw attention to life with a child with Down syndrome or a family that caretakers in that way," Clark said.

"There's a great degree of abilities that comes with the syndrome, and there's a myriad of ways that it affects each child differently. There's not one simple manifestation of it, and I think that's important to recognize too."

Will Clark, 7 years old with Down syndrome, looks up to his older brother Garrett as Madison starters are introduced during the WES's Game match in The Ball Park at Jackson, in Jackson, Tenn., on Thursday, March 21, 2024.
Will Clark, 7 years old with Down syndrome, looks up to his older brother Garrett as Madison starters are introduced during the WES's Game match in The Ball Park at Jackson, in Jackson, Tenn., on Thursday, March 21, 2024.

Origin story: A tournament is born

Clark, Joe Grapes, and Eric Quinn were all high school baseball coaches.

In 2018, Clark was coaching at Madison Academic High School, Grapes was at Liberty High School, and Quinn was at Riverside High School in Decaturville.

Coincidentally, Clark and Quinn found themselves sharing an elevator at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital, each there seeking care for their sons.

The Clarks were at Vanderbilt for their then five-month-old son William's heart repair surgery. During the 10 days they were there, Grapes came to Vanderbilt for a check-up with his son.

Will Clark, 7 years old with Down syndrome, shakes hands with the officiating crew before the WES's Game match in The Ball Park at Jackson, in Jackson, Tenn., on Thursday, March 21, 2024.
Will Clark, 7 years old with Down syndrome, shakes hands with the officiating crew before the WES's Game match in The Ball Park at Jackson, in Jackson, Tenn., on Thursday, March 21, 2024.

Shortly after this three-fold encounter, Clark and Grapes got to talking about what they could organize in the community to recognize March 21, World Down Syndrome Awareness Day.

Both from a background in baseball, they began toying with the idea of hosting a tournament.

"How cool would it be if we had a baseball game on March 21?" Clark said.

Though the idea spawned in 2018, inclement weather rained out the games in both 2018 and 2019. Then in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic swept the nation and delayed the event's inauguration once again.

The tournament was held for the first time in 2021 where two games were played.

Doubling in the number of games played each year, the event's growth is reflected in the 16 games scheduled for the 2024 tournament.

"We hope this grows every year," Rockabillys owner Dennis Bastien said. "I'd love for it to be 32 or 48 [next year]."

The games were extra special for World Down Syndrome Awareness Day on Thursday where the Haywood County Tomcats faced off against the Madison Academic Mustangs in the second and final game of the night.

Will Clark, 7 years old with Down syndrome, practices before he throws the first pitch during the WES's Game match in The Ball Park at Jackson, in Jackson, Tenn., on Thursday, March 21, 2024.
Will Clark, 7 years old with Down syndrome, practices before he throws the first pitch during the WES's Game match in The Ball Park at Jackson, in Jackson, Tenn., on Thursday, March 21, 2024.

A 'super meaningful' event

The Mustangs ended the night of baseball with an 11-6 win over the Tomcats. One of the biggest Mustangs fans ran onto the field to celebrate — Will Clark.

Will was in the middle of the celebration with the Mustangs. The players huddled around him and clapped for him, he was clapping right along with the team.

Then, in an instant, the players lifted Will to the top of the huddle and raised him up high to celebrate the Mustangs’ win.

Garrett Clark, who scored a run in Thursday’s win, got a tear in his eye seeing his brother at the center of the team’s celebration.

“It’s super meaningful,” Garrett said. “My brother, I just love his love for the game. I love people with disabilities, their love for the game – the way they interact with other people in and outside of the game. It’s just awesome.”

Watching the tournament go from one game to a full week of awareness has been joyous and wholesome.

It’s just simply an awesome reminder of why baseball is their favorite sport.

“I love to see it, it’s something that doesn’t get recognized enough,” Garrett Clark said.

“I love to see all of the guys coming out here, cheering on all of the teams. It’s always great to see the love for the game these guys have.”

This article originally appeared on Jackson Sun: 3 dads spark Down Syndrome Awareness tourney to educate in Jackson

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