Ron Matthews "A" Memorial Tournament

congratulations to the winners of the 2024 

ron matthews memorial tournament: 

The LETHBRIDGE LAKERS

“Do your best.  Have fun.  Follow your dreams.” (Ron Matthews)

The Lethbridge American Legion Miners’ annual Ron Matthews Memorial Tournament was established in 2000, to pay tribute to Ron (Grimson) Matthews, a former player and coach with LALB, who passed away in 2000 at the age of 29.

Baseball was Ron’s great passion.  He began playing Little League baseball in Lethbridge at age four, inspired by the then Lethbridge Expos in the Pioneer Baseball League, and continued to play, reaching  Lethbridge’s American Legion A and AA programs during the late 1980s.  Ron enjoyed a season pitching at his best with the then Lethbridge Mounties in the Pioneer Baseball League.  Beyond his experiences playing Lethbridge ball, in 1995, Ron went on to play for the AA Moose Jaw Diamond Dogs, and to play at the college level on scholarships—in Walla Walla Washington, Whitworth College (Spokane) and Pocatello, Idaho.  Ron achieved his ultimate goal when he was drafted as a pitcher for spring training camp with the Cincinatti Reds.  Keeping his roots in Lethbridge, it was during the summer of 1997 that Ron coached with LALBA, as assistant coach with the Miners.

Beyond baseball accomplishments during his short life, Ron completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in Kinesiology at the University of Lethbridge.  An all-around athlete, he also excelled in many sports, including rep hockey, golf, and soccer. Ron was also a dad to his three most cherished accomplishments, his sons, Shea, Zachary and Cody. 

This annual tournament in Ron’s memory strives to keep live his passion for the game of baseball as well as his spirit of competition and accomplishment.