The 1991 Kent Roosevelt High School baseball team poses for a group photo, with their beloved teammate David Starkey in the middle (jersey No. 18).

By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

Kent Roosevelt is set to host the 18th annual David Starkey Memorial Baseball Classic.

The event will be held at Roosevelt Park on Friday and Saturday, celebrating the legacy of 1991 Roosevelt graduate David Starkey, who died unexpectedly on Aug. 22, 2007.

Starkey was a standout member of the Rough Riders’ 1990 district-championship team.

Starkey’s walk-off home run in a victory over Solon in the district final remains a loving and legendary story amongst his friends and teammates.

Starkey was named the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Player of the Year in 1991, then played for Cumberland College and Cuyahoga Community College.

“Big Stark” then made a name for himself on softball fields across Ohio with is “friendly smile and tape-measure home runs.”

He also began his passionate work as a youth baseball coach for Ravenna Hot Stove, youth basketball and soccer.

The schedule of games includes: 

FRIDAY, MAY 9

• Field vs Southeast, 2 p.m.
• Kent Roosevelt vs. Woodridge, 5 p.m.

SATURDAY, MAY 10

• Aurora vs. Lake, 9 a.m.
• Cloverleaf vs. Woodridge, 11:30 a.m.
• Stow vs. Highland, 2 p.m.
• Kent Roosevelt vs. Ravenna, 4:30 p.m.

Each team will be provided a postgame meal by the Roosevelt baseball program. Additionally, the newly established Roosevelt Baseball Boosters will coordinate the concession stand on Saturday, while Roosevelt assistant baseball coach Jason Preising will have an ice cream trailer on site.