OREGON – The Oregon Park District kicked off the summer baseball and softball season with the Annual Joe Kerwin Baseball & Softball Celebration on Saturday, June 4. 

Oregon Park West was the place to be with players and their families, games on each of the diamonds, a celebration between games which included announcing all teams and sponsors, presentation of the flag, live singing of the National Anthem by Three Batons and a Shovel, a tribute to Joe Kerwin by Oregon Park District Board President, Mark Tremble, and the announcement of Joe Kerwin Player of the Game. Coaches from opposing teams nominated a player for this special award in memory of Kerwin. It’s not an award designed for the best athlete. It’s an award for the player that embodies sportsmanship, friendship, a positive attitude, and those special qualities Kerwin had.

Kerwin was a former Park District employee, scorekeeper, and huge baseball fan who we lost due to a car accident. In his memory, the Kerwin family donated the current scorekeepers/press box. This small building has been a great addition to the diamonds and makes for a more comfortable scorekeeping experience for sure. This year, a special tribute signs were added to each of the dugouts. The signs commemorate the qualities Joe exhibited daily and serve as a reminder to our youth players and coaches.

Joe’s mother, Nancy Kerwin, and sister, Colleen Kerwin, attend the event each year and award the Joe Kerwin Player of the Game trophies to those kids that are chosen. They enjoy coming back to the field and watching our youth play ball and enjoy their experiences on the field as much a Joe did.