Best friends Chris Morales, left, and D.J. Geiling smile in their baseball uniforms in a photo taken years ago. EDISON — David “DJ” Geiling and Chris Morales became fast friends at age 7, bonding over baseball, a sport they both loved.
When DJ was killed in a bicycle accident five years later, Morales vowed to never forget him. Since 2009, he and others have honored DJ with an annual baseball event that raises funds for a scholarship in his name. This year’s fundraiser is set for Sept. 19.
“[DJ] meant a lot to so many people. He had an infectious smile, and cared deeply about all his teammates,” Morales said, adding that his best friend was sometimes too emotional about the game, but that just made his teammates love him even more. “He wore his heart on his sleeve and wasn’t afraid to show people how he was feeling. He was our leader.”
Morales took on his own leadership role in organizing each year’s event, but he pointed out that he doesn’t do it on his own.
“We have a committee — the DJ Geiling Scholarship Fund Committee — that works extremely hard to help me produce these events each year, and I couldn’t do it without them,” he said.
This year’s event is a bit different in that it’s a softball tournament, Morales explained.
“DJ’s family members expressed an interest in having more people be able to participate in the game, so we decided softball was easiest,” he said. “There was such a great response to this that we decided to do a tournament.”
The tournament is set for 12 p.m. on Sept. 19 at the Edison Municipal Complex.
Six teams, each of which donated $125 to participate, will compete in the event.
Raffles of sports memorabilia, bicycle helmets, food baskets and other assorted items, along with food and beverage sales, will add to the fundraising and fun. Spectators will have the chance to play games for prizes between innings, according to Morales’ mother, Robin Heilmann.
“It is a fun-filled day for any age, and the committee hopes to surpass previous years in donations,” she said.
The donations fund the scholarship that is awarded each year to a baseball player at Edison High School who embodies DJ’s characteristics, Heilmann said.
“He was a true team player, and would spend time helping others who were struggling either offensively or defensively,” she said. “He encouraged fellow teammates when they were going through a batting slump, and was always there to offer help and encouragement.”
Morales said the event and the scholarship help to ease some of the pain left behind by DJ’s death.
“Losing DJ was tragic, and I’m glad we can bring his family some peace by remembering him each year with this scholarship, he said, adding, “I’ve also felt like since we started this, I’ve gained another brother, as DJ’s older brother, Bobby, and I have become pretty close.