The 13th annual Veterans Memorial Softball Classic kicked off this weekend in Belgrade, bringing together Montana's top high school players for a tournament that carries a mission far beyond the diamond. For founder and tournament director Jim Matter, the event represents the finest softball the state has to offer, but its true meaning lies in honoring those who served.

"To be able to honor veterans at the same time makes it a really heartfelt occasion," Matter said. "And you just can't beat the atmosphere that it brings."

This year's edition features four Belgrade players participating for the first time. Senior Brooke Stump recalled the moment she learned she made the team. She was in the parking lot of Belgrade High School when her coach called with the news. "It was really exciting," Stump said. "I went to my grandpa's house to tell him, and he was very excited. He jumped up and was very happy for me."

Junior Kinna Griffis appreciates the tournament's location. "I think it's really cool that they're doing it in Belgrade because I feel like that just brings our community together more," she said.

Emerson Gunther, a senior from Laurel High School, is competing for the third time. With family members who served in the Navy and Marines, the event carries personal significance. "It's really cool to be here, especially since I've had family in the Navy and the Marines," Gunther said. "It's very cool to go and represent them now."

Matter, who served in the military, sees a strong connection between his service and what the players experience this weekend. He recalled being thrown into a battalion of strangers from across the country, learning to unite for a purpose larger than any individual. "I see that in these teams and these players in these games, and that really means the world to me," Matter said.

The tournament includes a Friday night ceremony that Gunther finds especially meaningful. "We get to walk out and support one of the Marines that has died and sacrificed their life," she said. "I think it's honestly really cool to listen to their story and who they are and what they've done for us."

Griffis echoed that sentiment, reflecting on a Coast Guard member being honored. "There's nothing that we can do to obviously live up to what he did for us," she said. "But we can play as hard as we possibly can to try and show that we appreciate what he did for our country."

Matter credits the unwavering support of players and their families for the tournament's growth. "It's just unbelievable what it has become," he said. "It's honestly bigger than the game of softball and bigger than anything we ever could have imagined."

The second day of competition begins Saturday at 8 a.m., with the championship game scheduled for 5:30 p.m. The event continues to draw the best young talent in Montana, all while paying tribute to the veterans who gave everything for their country.