Four years after the loss of Zachary “Zallen” Allen, the Oceanside community once again turned grief into generosity, gathering on softball fields to celebrate the life of a young man remembered for his infectious personality and love of the game.
The fourth annual Zachary “Zallen” Allen Classic Memorial Tournament took place July 11 at Oceanside High School and Oceanside Park and raised more than $10,000 to support the Zachary “Zallen” Allen Memorial Scholarship Fund at Oceanside High School.
Allen, 24, a 2017 graduate of Oceanside High School who went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree in International Business/Trade at the University of Buffalo, died in a car accident on June 15, 2022, and the tournament was founded the following year by his close friends Alex Ducorsky and Jake Manyin. What began as a way for friends to remember him has become a summer tradition that draws hundreds of players, spectators and volunteers from across Oceanside.
“Softball was something that Zach loved to do,” Ducorsky, 27, said. “We felt it was a good way not only to honor him, but to support the family as well. It was just a fitting way to celebrate his life.”
This year’s event featured 12 teams and 150 players competing throughout the day. Registration fees, raffle ticket sales, T-shirt purchases and donations all contributed to the fundraiser, with proceeds benefiting the scholarship fund. Scholarships are awarded each year to two graduating Oceanside High School seniors who have maintained a GPA of 90 or higher, demonstrated an enthusiastic spirit and plan to attend a four-year State University of New York college. This year’s recipients were Connor Greenberg and Samantha Kantrowitz.
Since the tournament began, organizers have been encouraged by the community’s unwavering support. “The participation has been off the charts since the first year,” Ducorsky said. “We always have 150 players every year, and when one team couldn’t participate this year, we immediately had three or four others asking if they could take its place.”
This year's tournament also marked a milestone, with a new primary venue. While games continued at Oceanside Park, tournament headquarters moved to the high school, where newly renovated artificial-turf softball and baseball fields hosted much of the action.
"It had always been my goal to hold it at Oceanside High School," Ducorsky said. "That's where the scholarship is given out every year, and with the new turf fields, it just felt like the right place."
The high school served as the hub for the day's activities, which included food trucks, raffles and the championship game. More than 20 raffle baskets, assembled with donations from local businesses and community members, as well as items purchased by organizers, helped drive the fundraising efforts.
"The businesses have been unbelievable," Ducorsky said. "You can see how much the community has embraced this event through the donations we receive and the people who give their time."
Community support extends beyond sponsors. The high school provided access to its athletic facilities, and local umpires volunteered to officiate games.
"A lot of the umpires actually request to work this event because of what it's for," Ducorsky said. "It's one day a year where you really see everyone come together for the right reason."
Although competition is part of the day, organizers say the tournament's true purpose has never changed. "It's not really about winning," Ducorsky said. "Everybody knows what it's for. It's to honor Zach."
For Ducorsky, the event is also deeply personal. He and Allen became close friends as 13-year-olds while playing together on the Oceanside Mariners travel baseball team, bonding during a memorable trip to Cooperstown Dreams Park in upstate Cooperstown, home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
"That's really where our friendship started," Ducorsky said. "From then on, we were always best friends."
Allen's passion for sports — especially baseball and the New York Mets — inspired the tournament's softball format. Friends say he was known for his humor, positive outlook and ability to brighten every room he entered.
That spirit is reflected in the scholarship recipients, whose letters of appreciation have become one of the most meaningful rewards for organizers.
"When we hand out the scholarships, we've gotten some really nice letters from the students," Ducorsky said. "They tell us how honored they feel to receive it, and that means a lot."
The tournament has developed traditions of its own. Before the 50-50 raffle drawing, Allen's father, Bob Allen, addresses the crowd, thanking participants and reflecting on his son's legacy. At the conclusion of the championship game, the winning team gathers on the pitcher's mound for a photo before its captain writes the team's name on the tournament bracket beneath the word "champion."
This year's title was claimed by Team Homeys, which emerged victorious from a field that included Team Bajdel, Team Buffalo, Team Judd, Team Mariners, Team Next Gen, Team OF Squad, Team Provvido, Team Rattlers, Team Steimel, Team Worm and Team Zuart.
Behind the scenes, dozens of volunteers made the event possible. Suzy Ducorsky, Halley Manyin and Lydia Camileri coordinated the raffles; Mike Nathen, Tom Lehman and Dr. Jerel Cokley assisted with permits and field logistics; Dennis Oehl and Rob Keane organized umpires; and Taylor Made Party Rentals provided canopies and tables.
Four years after Allen's death, the tournament's greatest accomplishment is measured not in dollars raised or games won, but in the community's continued commitment to remembering a young man whose impact continues to be felt — one summer, one scholarship and one softball game at a time.
