Art Von Memorial Tournament Returns to Duluth for 31st Year

DULUTH, Minn. — The bases were loaded, in Duluth last weekend, as the 31st annual Art Von Memorial Tournament returned.

The tournament brought in more than 70 youth baseball teams from across the region.

The games took place at six locations across the city, including the Western Little League and Wade Stadium fields.

Over 800 players from 9U to 15U showed off their skills during the tournament.

The tournament is named after Art Von, a Minnesota man, who in 1959, was the pioneer for Little League baseball in Duluth.

Now, to honor his legacy, the tournament is put on annually, to continue to grow the game.

“It’s a life passion for those of us that put a lot of time into it, some people teach in the classroom. Some people teach in a forest. We teach between the lines on a diamond. This is where we teach life lessons. This is where we turn boys into men and really reinvigorate and reinforce the next generations of our community,” Seth Marsolek, Art Von Memorial Tournament Director said.

The Championship games took place Sunday at Lake Park.

There was also a home run derby on Saturday for the the 12U and 13U divisions.