Zachary "Zallen" Allen

On June 15th, 2022, Zachary “Zallen” Allen, tragically lost his life in a vehicular accident. Throughout his life, Zachary had the unique ability to light up a room with his sense of humor and vibrant personality, a feeling so palpable to those around him. In quieter moments, Zachary found immense joy in doing puzzles. Each completed puzzle was a testament to his determination to see things through—a trait that mirrored his outlook on life. Zachary was also an avid sports fan, cheering on the Giants, Rangers, and Knicks. Yet, amidst his love for football, hockey, and basketball, there was a special place in his heart for the New York Mets and the game of baseball. As a baseball player himself, Zachary epitomized the spirit of the game and it naturally translated over to playing softball with friends as the years went by.

Two of his closest friends, Alex Ducorsky and Jake Manyin, started this tournament in 2023 to honor Zachary’s life and have the community come together to participate in one of the things he loved to do most, playing softball. In its first year, the Zachary Allen Classic raised over $16,000 from donations, raffles, and team registrations. With this tremendous outpouring of support, we have established the Zachary “Zallen” Allen Memorial Scholarship Fund at his alma mater, Oceanside High School. This is awarded to two students who have a strong GPA of 90 or above, have an exuberant and ambitious character, and plan to attend a 4-year SUNY college, just as Zachary did.

The Zallen Scholarship Fund is a registered 501(c)(3).