The annual Matt Osienski Bowling Tournament is Aug. 14 to benefit Westfield Babe Ruth Baseball. (PHOTO SUBMITTED)
WESTFIELD — The ninth annual Matt Osienski Memorial Bowling Tournament is Aug. 14, with proceeds to benefit the Westfield Babe Ruth Baseball organization.
Osienski died nine years ago and is missed today by family and friends, who started this event in 2012 “so all his friends and family could gather in Matt’s spirit to have some fun, laughs, and smiles in his honor,” said his longtime friend Thomas Naro.
The event was postponed in 2020 due to COVID-19, but is slated for Aug. 14 this year at 4 p.m. at Agawam Bowl in Agawam. Bowling starts at 5 p.m.
Naro was friends with Osienski most of their lives.
“I met Matt in the third grade and found out we lived in the same neighborhood,” Naro recalled. “Both of us loved baseball, so naturally, we played street ball every summer until we hit too many balls over the neighbor’s fence.”
Naro said Osienski remained an avid player into adulthood.
“Matt was a slugger at bat, always hustling on the field and constantly routing for his teammates,” said Naro. “He was a starting pitcher on the Westfield Babe Ruth Baseball All-Star team three years in a row — he was famous for his fast ball, curve ball, and knuckle ball.”
Naro and Osienski played baseball together on Westfield Babe Ruth, American Legion and Westfield High School teams.
“Matt did go on to play other leagues at higher levels, making friends along the way,” said Naro.
The bowling tournament is a fun way for friends and family to keep Osienski’s memory alive. Naro said there is a group of 30 core participants, but they have 75 tickets available and there will be some lanes open if a few more show up.
Tickets may be purchased at the door for $20 to bowl, with shoes. All participants will receive a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card door prize. The cost includes pizza. There will be prizes to auction off, with a grand prize of a four-pack of Red Sox tickets for the 7:10 p.m. game on Sept. 3 against the Cleveland Indians at Fenway.
Agawam Bowl is located at 359-363 Walnut Street Ext. in Agawam.
For more information, search for the Matt Osienski Bowling Tournament event on Facebook.
