CARLSBAD ---- The signs may be small indicating the new name for a ball field at Poinsettia Park, but, if community members have their way, they mark big changes in the lives of some Carlsbad youths.

What was known as Field One is now Thorp Field, in honor of former Carlsbad High School straight-A student Mitchell Thorp, who died of a still-undiagnosed disease a year ago to the date of Thursday's emotional dedication ceremony.

Mitchell's parents, Beth and Brad Thorp, unveiled the sign and plaque and cut the ribbon in front of a few dozen onlookers. Then, their younger son Matthew threw out the first pitch on the field.

"I am so proud of Matthew," said his friend and high school baseball teammate Josh Walker, who, between two long, tearful hugs, caught the throw. "It couldn't be easy for him with everybody watching and thinking of the loss of his only brother, but it was a much-needed tool to help him overcome his grief."

"Let's pray that all the kids that come on this field will have a great time and laugh, taking with them Mitchell's spirit to never give up," said the family's pastor, Jason Graves of Daybreak Church in Carlsbad, who performed the dedication at the private event.

The Thorps said they wanted to honor Mitchell's strength and courage throughout his five-year illness, as well as his deep affection for the game of baseball, so with the community's support they established the Mitchell Thorp Foundation. The nonprofit organization provides financial help and emotional support to families facing serious childhood illnesses and will present "Mitchell Thorp Awards" ---- scholarships to athletes who demonstrate outstanding citizenship.

Beth Thorp said the support the family received from the community of Carlsbad was "awesome" and led her and Brad to create the foundation to help other families to overcome similar obstacles.

Two 16-year-old Carlsbad boys battling cancer, Chase Quartarone and Sam Reiser, are the first recipients of the foundation. Chase has B-cell lymphoma and Sam has Hodgkin's lymphoma. The first fundraiser will take place in January.

The park played a prominent role in Mitchell's life. There, he played youth baseball and, after falling ill, attended a May 2006 "walkathon" fundraiser created by family friends to help his family with mounting medical costs.

The idea for the field naming came shortly after Mitchell's death.

Graves had come to the Thorp home to help plan the memorial service. He noticed a sign and scoreboard Mitchell had made for the backyard to try to capture the essence of a real ball field during Wiffle Ball games he'd play for "hours on end" with Matthew.

After the notion of some sort of dedication was tossed around among friends and family, Tom Watson, a former president of Carlsbad Youth Baseball, "took the bull by the horns." He served as a catalyst throughout the yearlong process, which involved a formal proposal to the city's parks and recreation department. After several meetings and steps required under the city's facility naming policy, he gained approval by both the department and the city council.

City Councilwoman Ann Kulchin has been a "great supporter throughout the whole journey," according to Watson, and was in attendance Thursday.

Kulchin said she hoped the renaming would bring attention, and funds, to the foundation.

"We can send people to the moon but we can't find out why Mitchell died," Kulchin said. "I'm not sure how the family endured this tragedy, but I do know that through their faith and desire to help others they can now help improve the lives of other Carlsbad kids."

The first Mitchell Thorp Walkathon will be held at Thorp Field on Jan. 23.

For more information, visit www.mitchellthorp.com.