Dylan Moon

By Ray Hamill — College of the Redwoods will pay tribute to Dylan Moon at a softball doubleheader against Butte College on Saturday.

Moon was a Hoopa High basketball player who tragically passed away on March 13 from a gunshot wound to the head sustained in a shooting in Hoopa three days earlier.

And on Saturday, the Redwoods softball team will celebrate his life and “come together as a community against gun violence,” according to a social media post announcing the occasion.

Moon’s family will throw out the first pitch before the opening game at noon.

The 17-year-old’s tragic death has hit the local community hard.

On Tuesday, the Hoopa baseball team traveled to play a game at Trinity and the two schools held a moment of silence for Moon before the game.

Hoopa boys basketball coach Inker McCovey also fondly remembered the Warriors player, whom he said worked hard to make grades in order to be eligible for the team this year.

“He was pretty dedicated to the team,” said McCovey, who coached and worked with Moon for several years in rec ball. “He was motivated to go this year. He was a good kid. He always came over to referee the rec games. He’d be there six days a week.

“He was a good kid with a good heart and it’s a big loss for the community and the family.

“When he played for me, he always played hard. Our team is devastated.”