Posted at: 07/02/2009 8:59 PM
By: Valerie Castro, Eyewitness News 4; Charlie Pabst, KOB.com

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Tournament named in honor of boy killed in Rio Grande

Corbin Hayes

Things for the tournament kicked off Thursday night with a special appearance by Vince Young, the quarterback for the Tennessee Titans.

The Rio Rancho High School football stadium is where the tournament will take place beginning on Saturday. Rio Rancho Parks and Recreation says the city is hoping to make the Corbin Hayes Memorial Fourth of July Flag Football Tournament an annual tradition in honor of Hayes.

The 13-year-old was known for his love of sports.

City officials say the high school booster club came up with the idea and asked Hayes’ family about naming it after their son.

Jay Hart with the City of Rio Rancho said Thursday, "What happened is they approached Corbin Hayes family and asked them what they thought about naming their tournament after Corbin Hayes and they really supported it."

The city expects more than 100 teams to sign up. All of the money raised will be donated to Rio Rancho Schools’ athletic teams, the Fisher Foundation—which supports veterans—and the Rio Rancho Community Foundation.