Raptors, Jetty Grinders Win 16th Annual Travis Field Memorial Softball Tournament

There was a new champion crowned at the 16th Travis Field Memorial Softball Tournament this past weekend at the Terry King Ball Field in Amagansett. Well, at least in the tournament’s “A” bracket.

The Raptors defeated Taste Our Sauce in a rousing walk-off 4-3 victory on Sunday night to win the “A” title, ending what had been a pretty long reign for the Bad News Bubs, who had won it the past three consecutive years and four times overall. The Bubs were eliminated from contention after losses to the Pink Panthers and finalist Taste Our Sauce.

On the “B” side of the bracket, which is a bit more relaxed but had more teams this year, Jetty Grinders went undefeated and won for the second year in a row. Their consolation prize for doing so, other than winning a trophy, is moving up to the “A” bracket next year.

“First of all, we just need to give a shout to the community,” organizer Mike Graham said, adding that having over 100 people attend the Bracket Bash at The Clubhouse in Wainscott the week prior was a boon, as always. “Everyone was extremely generous with their donations. All of the local businesses came together to support us and without the generosity of anyone it wouldn’t make the tournament possible.

“And we couldn’t have asked for a better game to end the tournament.”

Trailing 3-2 for a good portion of the game, the Raptors got their last licks in the bottom of the seventh. With two outs, they had a runner on first base when Colin Davis hit a double to put the tying run and game-winning run on third and second, respectively. Then Anthony Daunt smacked a single to left field, driving in both runs to end the game.

The Raptors have played every year of the tournament’s existence, Leo Daunt said, but haven’t won in about a decade or so. He said the team got some amazing plays in the field from Tyler Davis at third base and Steve Bahns in the outfield. And Brian Pfund provided a powerful bat with a couple of home runs throughout the four-day-long tournament that began on Thursday, August 1.

“It made me really happy that Anthony got up and had the game-winning hit,” Leo said of his cousin Anthony. “He was the coach of the team for a long time and always the guy who was willing to sit if need be, or hit at the bottom of the lineup. He’s a very unselfish player, so when he got up there and got that game-winning hit, it meant a lot.”

Daunt said he didn’t know Travis Field personally but knows some of his family members and that it’s a privilege to be able to play in the tournament.

“It’s incredibly special for us to play in the tournament,” he said. “We all fully believe in the people that organize this and the scholarships that they give out. Playing in memory of Travis is what it’s all about and supporting the entire event.”

The Jetty Grinders defeated Bonac Vice, 15-2, for the “B” title. Team captain Kyle Mannix said Peter Kazickas led the entire tournament in home runs, including two in the championship game. Kyle’s brother Alex Mannix played a strong shortstop as well.

Kyle Mannix said, like many who played in the tournament, he grew up playing youth baseball with Travis Field.

“We had some great times together,” he said. “It’s great to honor him by playing in this tournament and helping raise money toward such a great scholarship.”

Both the bash and the tournament support the Travis Field Memorial Scholarship Foundation, named after the 2006 East Hampton High School graduate who died in a car accident in May 2008. Scholarships are given to East Hampton High School graduates each year. This year’s recipients included Luke Castillo, Katie Kuneth, William McGuire, Ryleigh O’Donnell and Sara Stuckart.

For more information on the scholarship and the tournament, head to tjfscholarship.org.