Over the last decade, Issaquah native Ken Esteves moved as far away as Southern California and Florida.

Whenever the third week of June came around, however, no obstacle — distance or otherwise — stopped him from returning to a patch of green grass on the corner of SE 20th Street and 212th Avenue SE in Sammamish.

In recognition of the 10-year anniversary of his friend and teammate Brock O’Connor’s tragic death, Esteves and approximately 70 others gathered last Saturday for a memorial softball game in the Pine Lake neighborhood. It marked the ninth straight year Esteves, along with former teammates, classmates and family members honored O’Connor, a 19-year-old who was killed July 22, 2000 in a construction accident.

“He was a leader and a friend, and a guy who is really missed by all of us,” said Esteves, who recently moved back to Issaquah.

The sudden tragedy delivered a blow to the communities of Issaquah and Sammamish. A star baseball player at Issaquah High School and a member of the 1999 IHS graduating class, Brock lived in Sammamish with his family — just a couple blocks from the Little League baseball field that now holds his name.

“He was a great person, great friend to be around, he put a smile on everybody’s face,” Esteves said.

There’s little question, it’s that carefree and loving attitude that draws so many friends back.

“Every year we just get more and more guys coming,” said Brock’s aunt, Corrine DeRosa. “It’s just amazing. You think there would be fewer and fewer as they get older, but every year there’s more and more.”

Participants are required to have known Brock or be the significant other of someone who did. But as friends get older, their families are growing, which has added an interesting dynamic.

“Friends are having their girlfriends come, who end up turning into their wives, and then they end up showing up with their families — now there are children running around the field,” Esteves said.

According to Brock’s mom, Patti, the numbers aren’t the only thing increasing — so is the level of competition.

“The first year it was kind of ‘ha, ha,'” she said. “Now, it’s my team is going to beat your team.”

This year’s game certainly followed suit with the Blue team edging the Red team, 17-15.

Perhaps there is no more fitting tribute to Brock than a close, hard-fought game. Growing up in the Issaquah Little League, Brock was known for his passion for baseball. He eventually became an all-KingCo catcher in high school and was planning on continuing his career at Bellevue College.

“He had the best arm in the state as a catcher,” said Esteves, who pitched on the 1999 Issaquah team that finished fourth in the state.

Brock’s brother, Brody, was just 15 when his brother passed away. As many younger siblings do, he idolized Brock and followed in his footsteps by becoming a catcher.

“He was just a good older brother to look up to,” Brody said.

To pay tribute to Brock’s love for the game, the Brock O’Connor Memorial Fund was immediately put into place. The monies raised go to support kids in the Issaquah and Sammamish Little Leagues who can’t afford equipment or other fees. There is also a college scholarship that goes to a baseball player from Issaquah and Skyline high schools. This year’s winners were Skyline’s Jayce Nelson and Issaquah’s Spencer Rogers.

Patti continues to be overwhelmed by the support that pours out from the community, and the group of returning friends.

“It’s honoring,” she said, fighting back tears. “I’m pretty close to a lot of them. They contact me, they email me, they’re just a great group.”

And as the generations grow, she can expect that support to continue for years to come.

Esteves wouldn’t have it any other way.

“The one day, for the rest of my life, that I’ll always be in Washington is for this event,” he said.