"I believe that only one person in a thousand knows the trick of really living in the present. Most of us spend fifty-nine minutes an hour living in the past, with regret for lost joys, or shame for things badly done both utterly useless and weakening – or in a future which we either long for or dread. Yet the past is gone beyond prayer, and every minute you spend in the vain effort to anticipate the future is a moment lost. There is only one world, the world pressing against you at this minute. There is only one minute in which you are alive, this minute – here and now. The only way to live is by accepting each minute as an unrepeatable miracle. Which is exactly what it is – a miracle and unrepeatable."

- Storm Jameson

 

Edwin left us unexpectedly and much too soon. From his life and passing we must learn to live knowing that each moment with those we care for is, as Storm Jameson writes, "a miracle and unrepeatable."

And so, why do we host a Wiffle® Ball Tournament?

Along with a few of his best friends, Edwin toured regionally to play at various tournaments. What better way to celebrate the impact that one individual made on the lives he touched than with a day that Edwin himself would have enjoyed so much – a beautiful New England summer day filled with the laughter of friends, family, and new acquaintances, and playing one of the great American pastimes... Wiffle® Ball.

In both life and sport, Edwin and his friends considered themselves a team, and as one of his closest friends, Greg Woodward, attests, "he was always our best player." His ability was greater than most, and his resilience was matched only by the sportsmanship he exuded in each game. Each summer, the Edwin A. Keach Memorial Wiffle® Ball Tournament is held at Militia Park in Easton, MA – the same park Edwin played on as a kid with his "team." Edwin’s spirit lives on in this tournament and serves as a celebration of his life – one taken too soon but with effects that will last a lifetime for those who knew him well.

The event is open to everyone - players and spectators alike. Through the efforts of our tireless volunteers, generous private and corporate sponsorships, great press, and of course, word of mouth, our once-little tournament has grown to become one of the largest tournaments in the region. As we continue to grow we hope that Edwin’s message, "lead, don't follow," will linger and inspire those who may or may not have known him.