Sports

Travis Field Softball Tourny 'Keeps His Spirit Alive'

20-year-old Springs man died in Wading River car accident in 2008.

Four years after 20-year-old Travis Field died in a car accident in Wading River, his family and friends continue to remember him through his love of softball.

Field, who grew up in Springs, played in the local men's slow pitch and fast pitch leagues and volunteered to help out t-ballers at the Springs Youth Association. "He lived for the spring-time so he could get out there and play," his mother Annmarie Field said this week.

Soon after the May 15, 2008 accident, Brian Anderson, his best friend since pre-school, organized a softball tournament in his memory and the proceeds raised have been benefiting the Travis Field Memorial Scholarship Fund.

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In advance of the fifth annual Travis Field Softball Tournament, played over four days early next month, a Bracket Bash will be held on Friday evening.

The co-ed tournament has 16 teams this year and the brackets are chosen at the party.

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The $300 entry fee to join the double-elimination tournament, go toward scholarships awarded to graduating seniors, who have competed in athletics and done significant community service, and are headed for college.

Field, who graduated from in 2006, was a student at Suffolk County Community College when he died. He had also recently joined the .

"It's keeping his spirit alive and also helps out the kids in the community," his mother said said. "The local people really look forward to it. In the summer, there's not a lot for the locals to do."

In 2012, four seniors received scholarships; two in the amount of $1,000 and two in the amount of $500. The fund has received as many as 30 applications. The hope is to increase the amount as the fund becomes more established. "I've got two in college now, I know every bit counts," Annmarie Field said. She and her husband Christopher Field are also the parents of Bryan, 21, and Kady, 18.

The party will be held on Friday at the American Legion in Amgansett from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. The $20 admission cost includes live music by RadioFire NY and a buffet catered by Smokin' Wolf. There will be a cash bar and a 50/50 raffle opportunity.

Tournament play is from Aug. 2 to Aug. 5 at the Terry king Ball Park in Amagansett, with start times at 5 p.m. for that Thursday and Friday and 9 a.m. for Saturday and Sunday. The rain date is Aug. 9 to 12.


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