Bryson’s Buddies Baseball Games honors former New Hanover HS player through inclusive baseball event

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WWAY-TV) — Even rainy weather could not stop the fifth annual Bryson’s Buddies Baseball Games Friday, as students with special needs from New Hanover High School and Hoggard High School gathered indoors for an inclusive baseball event honoring the life and legacy of former New Hanover baseball player Bryson Furtado.

The event was moved inside the First Baptist Activity Center, where cheers echoed throughout the gym as students took turns batting, running bases and celebrating with friends.

“My heart is full of joy, happiness, no sadness,” said participant Keandre Marshall.

Marshall said he was proud to honor his longtime friend by wearing Furtado’s name on his arm during the games.

“One thing about him is he always came and checked up on me,” Marshall said.

Bryson’s mother, Kim Furtado, said her son spent much of his time volunteering with exceptional children while attending New Hanover High School.

“Our son volunteered every day at lunch, and during his breaks, he’d go down and help the EC students at New Hanover. For the longest time, we didn’t even know he was doing it,” she said.

As part of a senior project, Furtado combined his love of baseball with his passion for helping others by organizing a baseball game with exceptional students in 2019.

“With 43 of Bryson’s friends that he paired up with these EC students and we played a baseball game,” Kim Furtado said.

Video from that first event showed Furtado sitting on the ground cheering Marshall on as he ran toward home plate.

After graduating high school, Furtado attended college to study occupational therapy and continued volunteering with exceptional students through the Autism Society of North Carolina, according to his mother.

But in 2022, while in school, Furtado died by suicide, leaving many unanswered questions.

“He did not have any depression, there was no chemical dependency, there was nothing like that in his life,” Kim Furtado said.

In the years since, Furtado’s friends and former teammates have continued the annual baseball games in his memory. Organizers say the event not only celebrates inclusion and friendship but also raises awareness about suicide prevention.

Scott Sandlin, one of Furtado’s former coaches, encouraged others to build meaningful connections.

“Be like Bryson with our kids, get in there and find out about them and really, really try to gain a true connection,” Sandlin said.