The Lynx Invitational will officially be renamed the Dave Hilton Classic here on Friday.

A celebration to honor Hilton, a legendary head softball coach at Webster City, will begin at 5 p.m. at the Webster City High School Sports Complex. The event will include speakers, a bench dedication and a tribute to Hilton himself.

“This is obviously a terrific honor and I’m very grateful,” Hilton said. “I think what I’m looking forward to most is being there with my wife, two daughters and our family, and seeing all of the (former players) I’ve coached again. It’s always fun catching up with everyone.”

Hilton coached the Lynx from 1983-2012, winning 766 games during his 29-year career that included a stint with Northeast Hamilton. Webster City won two state titles under his guidance, as he was inducted into the Iowa Girls Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

“Renaming the Lynx Softball Classic after Hilt just makes sense when you think about the impact he made on Lynx softball,” Webster City activities director Jess Howard said. “Coach Hilton has been a constant force within the Webster CIty Athletic Department for many years even after he ‘retired’ from coaching.”

The Lynx will play No. 7 (Class 4A) Carlisle on Friday night at 7:15 p.m. The event will continue on Saturday with Ballard, ninth-ranked (1A) Martensdale-St. Marys and West Marshall all in action.

“I still love softball, and I miss it a great deal,” Hilton said. “I watched a lot of the (recent Women’s College) World Series games and I still put myself in the shoes of a coach making decisions. I don’t get to as many games as I should (in person) anymore, so Friday will be a lot of fun.”

The decision to rename the event in honor of Hilton was made through the Enhance Hamilton County Foundation earlier this year. The Dave Hilton Character and Commitment Scholarship Fund has also been created to support female student-athletes at Webster City.

“I miss the connectivity of softball most,” Hilton said. “It’s such a fun sport, not only building relationships with your players working toward a common goal on the field and in practice but all of the picnics and team bonding that goes with it.

“This means a lot to me and I’m thankful for everyone who has gone out of their way to put it together.”