The games were began several years ago for the propose of raising money for the Dixie Youth Baseball Scholarship Program.
DYB gives 27 scholarship each year valued at $2,000 each. More than 30 scholarships have been awarded to Bladen County students over the years.
Lennon, a DYB National Director, represented North Carolina on the scholarship committee and worked tirelessly over the years raising funds for the scholarship fund.
Following his death three years ago, the annual scholarship games were named in his honor.
In the beginning three fields were used at Bladen County Recreation Park for the games. A couple of years the fourth field was built at the park and the games were played on all four fields.
A few years later the park was built in Elizabethtown and that field was used. Because of the popularity of the games, the Clarkton DYB field started being used for the overflow from the county park and Elizabethtown. Last year the new field in Clarkton was completed.
Seven fields are now being used for the games, the four at the county park, the one in Elizabethtown and the two at the Harriett & Henderson Complex in Clarkton.
This year 102 teams are participating in the event from a six county area. Teams from Columbus, Brunswick, Robeson, New Hanover, and Cumberland counties, along with all the DYB teams in Bladen County are playing in the event.
The field in Elizabethtown will be used for AAA (10-and-under) teams. One field in Clarkton will be used for Coach Pitch (eight -and-under) teams. The four fields at the county park and the other field in Clarkton will be used for Major League (12-and-under) and AAA teams.
There is a $2 admissions charge for fans 12-and-above, and fans are asked not to bring coolers.
DYB furnishes the balls and umpires, and the proceeds from the gate go to the scholarship funs.
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