Softball fundraiser raises thousands of dollars in memory of Coventry boy

WARWICK, R.I. (WJAR) — It was a home run on Saturday for the family of Micheal Lorenzen, but just over a year and a half ago, their world was turned upside down.

"Losing him took a big piece out of my life,” Kellie Lorenzen told NBC 10.

Lorenzen's 4-year-old son, Michael, died in a house fire that also took the life of his dad, causing Lorenzen grief she never wished to experience.

"I decided to do something with it and I decided to start this foundation in his honor,” she said.

Michael had autism. His mom says he was making huge strides in his everyday life growing up, before his life was taken.

"That's why I decided that a scholarship would be the way to go - he would have gone to college, he would have required scholarships, so therefore I want to give that opportunity to other kids with autism,” Lorenzen said.

On Saturday, she had a team behind her – 20 teams, to be accurate – as she led a softball tournament fundraiser.

"It was pretty emotional in the beginning, there were opening ceremonies, got pretty choked up,” player Gary Constantino said.

"We play a lot of softball and to see everyone come together for one cause, it was awesome,” player Justin Sweet added.

Michael's mom says she had some help getting everyone out on the diamond.

"I have a 9-year-old daughter Julia who's autistic,” Warwick Police Det. Lt. Scott Robillard said. He was a key player in getting the fundraiser up and running.

"With autism affecting so many people, everybody's touched by it,” Robillard added.

Kellie Lorenzen says the community has amazed her, and she wouldn't be able to do this without them cheering her on.

"It means so much to know that the energy I would have put into him succeed in the future is now going to help others."

Michael's mom tells us they raised more than $10,000 on Saturday, and she hopes to make this tournament an annual one. She says the first scholarships will be awarded in May. For more information, head to https://michaellorenzenfoundation.com/