There were no losers on the diamond in the recent Briana Marie Cox Memorial Softball Tournament at Okeeheelee Park in West Palm Beach.

More than 100 teams in multiple age groups participated in the United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA)-sanctioned event that honored Cox, who was killed in a car accident on July 16, 2006 on her way home from Atlanta after attending her sister Becky’s tournament.

Boynton Beach’s Megan Britt, 14, who plays for the Lady Bandits 14-Under Division team that competed in the tournament, said the cause serves as added motivation.

“This is a great tournament,” said Britt, who recently graduated from Christa McAuliffe Middle School. “It teaches you that you only have so long. You don’t know when it will end. It’s fun sharing the time with my friends.”

Lady Bandits’ coach Michael Tanner, who is in his third season with the squad, said softball teaches many lessons.

“The girls build relationships and they learn sportsmanship, how to work together and how to pick one another up when one is down,” said Tanner, whose team previously won the Walk on the Wild Side tournament in Wellington. “They learn how to motivate one another and they feed off one another.”

Tanner said the tournament also hits home.

“As a parent, you would never wish that on anybody or your very own child,” he said. “It’s a great cause. We play in this tournament every year and make sure we don’t miss it. We don’t schedule anything around this time. My daughter (Marlaina) fell in love with the tournament…she wears the same number (13) as Briana.”

Marlaina Tanner, who attends Somerset Academy Canyons Middle School, is thrilled to be on the field honoring Briana..

It just shows that everybody should give their all because you never know how much time you have left in the sport,” said Tanner, 13. “Even if we lose, I know am still doing a good deed and helping someone else.”

Robyn Caron is a member of the Briana Marie Cox Foundation’s board of directors. She said the tournament originated at Palm Beach Central High School with 25 teams but has since expanded into becoming the largest tournament in Florida except for the state tournaments.

“[Our foundation] helps families who have lost children with funeral expenses and counseling,” Caron said. “We also give Pathfinder Scholarships to seniors who have lost a parent or a sibling.”

Caron estimated that the foundation, which was established in 2008, provides more than $12,000 a year in scholarships. She said 100 percent of the proceeds go to scholarship recipients,

“It means the world to see people coming to events like this and to our benefit golf tournament in September, and helping out like they do,” said Caron, whose two daughters were softball teammates of Cox. “I am a mother of three kids and it is hard to hear families talking about things they shouldn’t be talking about. You have to cherish every moment and don’t let little things get to you.”

The foundation also offers support to families who have lost loved one through group counseling.