South Georgia baseball player remembered - WALB.com, South Georgia News, Weather, Sports

A mother makes that plea as two area college baseball honor her late son.

A South Georgia college baseball player is remembered Tuesday night, nearly 20 years after dying from Meningitis.

Evan Bozof was honored Tuesday during the Georgia Southwestern State University and Albany State University baseball game.

His parents said they will continue his legacy to educate others on the importance of getting vaccinated.

Evan Bozof's former teammates proudly unveil his retired jersey on Georgia Southwestern State University's baseball field.

They declared today as Evan Bozof Meningitis Awareness Day.

“We made a lot of memories together," said Ryan Young, former teammate.

" Evan was taken from us to young but he left a mark on a lot of people and that's a great thing," Bryan Mclain, former coach.

Bozof was a pitcher for the Hurricanes and died 17 years ago from meningococcal meningitis. He was 20-years-old. Current players and the community wore these green shirts with Bozof's name and number on the back.

Bozof's father threw out the first pitch on the mound where Evan's ashes are stored.

"We're just so grateful that after 17 years Evan's friends remember him and want to honor him and share our message of getting vaccinated," said Lynn Bozof, Evan's mother.

Evan's parents spearheaded the National Meningitis Association and was also instrumental in passing state legislation requiring college students to get vaccinated before starting school.

"Our mission is to educate parents and teens that they can protect themselves,” said Lynn Bozof, Evan's mother.

Young started the Evan Bozof Athletic Scholarship Fund in 2008 to deserving athletes excelling in the classroom. This year's recipient is pitcher Earl Dupree.

" Every time I go out on the mound his ashes are buried under the mound so that's really just something that stays close to my heart and makes it more personal to me,” said Earl Dupree, Scholarship Recipient.

" So he'll forever be a part of this university and this athletic program,” said Ryan Young, former teammate.

Evans parents recently produced a report with the CDC on the impact the disease can have on families. A $1000 donation was also given today to support the Evan Bozof Scholarship Fund.

Copyright 2015 WALB. All rights reserved.