Last year, a disagreement that quickly escalated into a mindless, stupid act of violence ended the life of 27-year-old Clint Seymour, a Mt. Lebanon native who recently had relocated to South Carolina.The loss sent shock waves through his extensive network of friends and family, including his father, Don, mother, Mary and sister, Carly.

Don Seymour was determined to bring grieving friends and family together to honor Clint’s memory in the best possible way. Clint was a standout baseball player, all-state for the 2004 Blue Devils and a scholarship player at Eastern Kentucky, so Don established the Clint Seymour Play Ball Fund, dedicated to promoting youth baseball and instilling kids with the joy of the game. Pirates infielder Neil Walker, one of Clint’s closest friends, serves on the group’s board of directors.

In August, the Play Ball Fund held a tournament at Dixon and Wildcat fields, engaging 60 players in the 7-8 age range for a day of free, non-competitive fun. Players came from the Mt. Lebanon Baseball Association, Big Brother/Big Sisters, Kids Voice and Miracle League. Coaches included about a dozen of Clint’s friends, teammates and coaches.

“Reactions of players, parents, and guardians were overwhelmingly positive,” says Don.

“One of our tenets is that joy is derived from respect and determination, whether on a playing field or in any other learning environment.”

To donate or learn more about the Clint Play Ball Fund, visit www.clintplayball.com.