And the game goes on … in honour of Karri Oksanen.
The Karri Oksanen Memorial Softball Tournament was founded in 2014 in support of the Karri Oksanen Memorial Foundation.
The tournament is an annual community fundraiser bringing together Karri’s friends and family and the community of Guelph to raise money for the Karri Oksanen Memorial Foundation.
Oksanen was known as an up and coming baseball prospect who played on scholarship at Division 1 NJCAA Lon Morris College and Division 2 NCAA Arkansas Tech University before injuries forced him to give up his playing career.
He was also a star hockey player and helped John F. Ross High School capture the OFSAA hockey championship in 2005.
Oksanen was tragically killed in a motor vehicle-pedestrian accident on Aug. 4, 2012.
Those who knew Karri say that as well-known as he was for being an outstanding athlete, he was even better known for being an outstanding person.
Throughout high school, Karri volunteered at St. Joseph’s Hospital and at local hockey rinks as a time keeper. He is often remembered by his teammates as the guy who would always take time to help them improve on their game.
His friends and family remember Karri as an outgoing, loving and caring individual whose smile could light up an entire room.
Organizer Shaun Valeriote helped organize the first tournament in 2014.
“The idea was just to get everyone out together to celebrate Karri’s life … and do some good in his name … and support his family.
“We’ve been doing this now for four years and it’s gradually grown each year.”
He said there have been as many as 15 teams taking part in the tournament.
While there are limits to the number of teams which can take part at the Ponsonby ball diamonds on a given weekend, “we love this facility because it is very intimate for family and friends.”
He noted “we’ve raised about $25,000 for the foundation … but it’s really about getting people out to support his family … and remember Karri.”
Valeriote added there are quite a few local sponsors who help make this happen.
“We sponsor 10 Guelph minor baseball association teams and last year we sponsored a Special Olympics athlete for the Special Olympics in Guelph,” he said.
“It’s about doing small things in support of Karri’s legacy.”
Peter Oksanen, Karri’s father, is impressed by the efforts of his son’s friends.
“It gives me a tug of joy that the tournament is still here into its fourth year and going into its fifth,” he said.
“The players are getting married, having kids and are still finding time to honour my boy.”
