Chris Moon’s story is much like Pat Tillman’s.

A former Arizona State and NFL standout, Tillman left his lucrative and celebrated football career to serve with the Army Rangers in 2002, and he was killed in Afghanistan in 2004. Moon was an All-State pitcher from Tucson High who ignored the Atlanta Braves, stepped away from the University of Arizona as a freshman and then died in battle in 2010, serving our country as a sniper in Afghanistan.

Moon was part of a recruiting class that eventually went on to win a national title with the Wildcats in 2012, but he wasn’t there in person to take in all the glory. He was there in spirit. As a highly-rated sniper, Moon was targeted by the enemy in a place called the Devil’s Playground.

A description of what Moon and his platoon had to go through can be found HERE.

Moon was targeted because he was the “last man,” a position taken by a soldier who followed his platoon to insure their safety. His position, and his rifle, tipped off the enemy to who he was, and they detonated an improvised explosive device under him remotely, from their cowardly position in the shadows. Moon died several days later, while his parents Marsha and Brian were inflight, on their way to see him in a military hospital in Germany.

The sacrifice Marsha and Brian made cannot be understated. It’s a sacrifice that can never, ever be repaid. Instead of watching their boy pitch for the Braves or kiss a trophy with the Wildcats, the Moon’s have graciously allowed us to share in his memory.

The Badgers honor their son every March in a tournament that bears his name, but they also honored him by erecting a life-sized statue of him, overlooking Cherry Field, where he once dominated. They honor him, and other former high school athletes, by welcoming other Gold Star families to celebrate the sacrifice they made.

This year, six teams from Arizona, Colorado and California will take part in the Chris Moon Memorial Tournament starting on Wednesday at Cherry Field.

 

Chris Moon Memorial Baseball Tournament

Mar. 27-30: Cherry Field

 

Wednesday, March 27

Pomona (CO) vs. Flowing Wells, 3 p.m.

Tucson vs. San Marcos (CA), 6 p.m.

Cesar Chavez vs. Arvada West (CO), 6 p.m.

 

Thursday, March 28

Cesar Chavez vs. San Marcos, Noon

Tucson vs. Arvada West, 3 p.m.

Cesar Chavez vs. Flowing Wells, 3 p.m.

Tucson vs. Flowing Wells, 6 p.m.

Pomona vs. San Marcos, 6 p.m.

 

Friday, March 29

Bracket Play

 

Saturday, March 30

Championship, 9 a.m.