In May of 2004, Kristofer R. Vercellone passed away in a fatal car accident. His family, though, has kept his name alive for the past decade with the annual “Wiffle War” tournament.

Held at the Horseneck Holy Ghost Grounds on Allen Neck Road, “Wiffle War X” drew in the biggest crowd yet this past weekend.

“This is my first time here, and it’s awesome,” said Alex Costa, a Portsmouth, Rhode Island, resident and member of “They Call Us Nasty.”

“It’s all about how you throw the ball,” said Costa. “It doesn't matter about the age you are.”

Players noted that the tournament was more about having fun than competition, and many of the teams’ names reflected that sentiment. Among the various teams, “Case of the Whiffles,” “Son of a Pitch” and “Victorious Secret” were some of the standouts. Victorious Secret went onto to become this year's winning team.

Each year, proceeds from the event have helped at least two Dartmouth High School senior athletes receive a scholarship worth $1,000. This year was a milestone, with a record 35 teams and five scholarships awarded.

The teams consisted of four to six players ages 8 to 50. Each team is guaranteed two games to play on one of the four fields throughout the day-long event. The teams play with wiffle bats and balls, which are softer version of their baseball counterparts, and the hitters don't run bases during the game. Instead, the umpire keeps track of where players would be positioned after a successful hit.

“The first year we did a dinner dance for the scholarship,” said Jonathan O’Neil, an organizer of the event. “We all used to play wiffle ball together when we were younger, so we decided to do something different than the usual scholarship dinner.”

This year, approximately 15 to 20 athletes applied for the scholarship. The students had to write an essay and were required to be a two-sport varsity athlete for at least two years.

“This is something that I’ve done for all 10 years,” said scholarship recipient Ross Pontes. “I played baseball and golf in high school, and I’m attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to study aerospace engineering and play golf.”

Each team member in the Wiffle War tournament had to pay a $35 entrance fee, which covered the T-shirt they received and food.

“This is my second year participating, and it’s so awesome,” said Jake Pringle, member of the Victorious Secret team, speaking before his team won the tournament. “Last year we came in third, but we’re definitely coming in first this year.”

Sam Kirby has participated in the event since he was nine years old with his two other brothers, George and Zack.

“I’ve been here since the start,” said Kirby, shortly after winning a game with his brothers.

According to Amber Ashton, the event may become a collaboration with the New Bedford Bay Sox, partnering to raise funds for diabetes to benefit all of the South Coast. Pat O'Connor, Bay Sox owner, has hosted his own share of successful wiffle ball tournaments over the same span of time.

“The family thought 10 years would be a nice ending,” said O’Neil. “We’re working with the Bay Sox and John Ashton to keep this going.”

Dave Vercellone, Kristopher’s brother, said that since his children are getting older and going to college, it’s tough to juggle the needs of his family with organizing the tournament. Even if the annual tournament ends this year, the scholarship will continue.

“The scholarship is sustainable for the next 20 years for two recipients each year to receive $1,000,” said Vercellone. “We have to wait and see if we’ll continue the event.”

“The event is epic in the minds of all who attend and play,” said Ashton.