'Bracket Bash' Lines Up Travis Field Tourny

With the Travis Field Memorial Softball Tournament coming up next week, this Sunday a Bracket Bash will be held to determine the game schedule.

Travis Field, a Springs resident, was killed in a car accident in May 2008 at the age of 20. Field was an avid athlete respected for his community service, playing baseball, signing on as a traffic control officer and working with children's sports while in high school before becoming a student at Suffolk Community College. 

Brian Anderson, who organizes the tournament each year, said the tournament helps to keep his spirit alive. “Travis was a great community member, he wanted to help everyone he could. They’re giving something back to Travis and showing their support for him.”

The Bracket Bash, Anderson said, is “a little like a draft, with a twist.” Representatives from 12 different teams will all draw numbers from a hat. The team that draws the number “1” will play in the first game of the tournament, and the team that draws the number “2” will play in the second, etc. There are two copies of each number in the hat, however, allowing the teams to pick their own opponents by chance. As Anderson said, “It adds a little suspense.”

The double elimination tournament will take place Aug. 1 to 4 and all the games will be played on the Terry King ball field in Amagansett. Food and drinks will be sold, as well as wristbands, hats and t-shirts, among other things. All proceeds raised in the tournament will go toward the Travis Field Memorial Scholarship, awarded to graduating seniors from East Hampton High School— Field’s alma mater— to help them pay for college. In the last two years, the scholarship was awarded to 8 different students.

“The tournament is getting really big,” Anderson said, “and I’d love to see it get even bigger. It seems like the community comes together to show support for someone who loved his community so much.”

The Bracket Bash will be held at the American Legion Post on Abraham’s Path in Amagansett from 7 to 10 p.m. The cost to attend the "Bracket Bash" is $15 at the door.

There will be a DJ, raffles, and hors d’oeuvres.