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Matthew T Ciarlone November 22 1988 - January 9 2009

All good things must come to an end...

16 years. Let that sink in for a moment.

16 years of early mornings and late nights.

16 years of 100-degree heat that didn't stop a single soul from showing up.

16 years of watching the radar, praying through the storms, and somehow — every single time — finding a way to play ball.

When we started this tournament, we had one goal: to honor Matt and give back to the community he loved. What we never could have predicted was just how many of YOU would show up, year after year, to make this something so much bigger than we ever imagined.

To every player who laced up their cleats — thank you.

To every fan who sat in that summer heat cheering — thank you.

To every sponsor, donor, and volunteer who made it all possible — thank you.

To everyone who dropped something off for the raffle table, spent countless hours in the shack, stayed late to help clean up, or simply just showed up — thank you.

The food was amazing. The raffles were incredible. The competition was fierce. But none of that — NONE of it — compares to the people. Year after year, the same familiar faces. New ones mixed in. All of you coming together for one reason.

For Matt.

For this community.

For each other.

And speaking of competition — we want to take a moment to honor every team that has ever stepped onto that field and fought for the title over the last 16 years. To all of our past champions — you are forever part of the Bats For Matt story. Every one of those wins meant something. Every one of those teams helped make this tournament what it is today.

And this year? This year belonged to "Perfect Strangers". Congratulations on an incredible run and a well-deserved championship. You played with heart, you played with grit, and you represented everything this tournament stands for. Wear that title proud — you earned it!

Because of your generosity over all these years, we've been able to give out 32 college scholarships totaling $64,000 to deserving student athletes, supported 34 local families battling cancer, help send 30 wounded veterans and children to their dream hunts, and invested $15,000 in the fields right here at the Downingtown Little League where Matt played the game he loved.

100% of every dollar. Right back into this community. Every single year.

This years tournament was no different bringing in an astonishing $14,104.

We are overwhelmed with gratitude. We are humbled by your loyalty. And we are so incredibly proud of what this tournament has become over 16 incredible years.

So for now, we say farewell — but only for now.

Because next year....😉

Until then — play ball, stay kind, and keep Matt's memory alive.

I am With you always!

I'm not one to post about loosing our son/brother, Matthew. Although it's been almost 15 years, it still seems like yesterday. Almost always around his anniversary and birthday I get these awesome amazing signs from him telling me that he is still with us. He was always one looking for attention and he knew how to get it. To better understand this email you must first read his story Roses from the Grave. This email showed up on my computer last week. IT'S FROM 12 YEARS AGO!!! I have no idea where it came from or how it showed up on my screen. It's not just the email but the contents of the email. I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS. I can honestly say that I do not remember receiving this back then. After all, it was only weeks after his passing. I feel the need to still share him with his friends. You all need to know that he is still with us. Hope this makes you smile.....Momma C

What we do:

Our son and brother Matthew had just graduated high school in 2007. In December of that same year he was diagnosed with leukemia. After 13 months of treatments and a stem cell transplant, Matthew lost his battle to this dreadful ugly disease.

Matt had 3 loves in his life: girls, hunting and baseball, not in that particular order.

Bats for Matt is a softball tournament we hold every year in his honor to raise money to give back to the community. It is our way of “giving back”. Originally, we set out to give one $2000 scholarship to a baseball player from his high school at Downingtown West. Because of the outcome of each year’s tournament, we are able to give a second $2000 scholarship to a girl softball player. Money raised is also given to cancer stricken families in our area to help them deal with their struggles and ordeals of cancer. Each year we gift 3 cancer families $1000 each. Each year we help send wounded/disabled vets and children with a life threatening illness go on their dream “Hunt of a Lifetime”. This is much like the Make a Wish Foundation. Lastly we donate money to the Downingtown Little league to assist with field maintenance and upgrades. 100% of the money we raise every year goes right back into our community!

Matthew T Ciarlone November 22 1988 - January 9 2009

Matthew T Ciarlone November 22 1988 - January 9 2009

I am With you always!

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