By Khalida Sarwari
Winning 28 of 30 games was a walk to first base for the Campbell Crush. After facing a season of curveballs and fastballs, the talented girls softball team is facing a different kind of challenge: raising money to go to Spokane, Wash., to compete in the Western Regionals.
To raise funds for the trip, the Crush will hold a spaghetti feed on July 22 at Forest Hill Elementary School, where the team plays its home games.
“We’re striving to raise money so we can support families that don’t have jobs in this economy or are trying to live day to day and struggling to have their daughter go and play with us,” said Steve Wilson, one of the team’s head coaches. “We’re trying to do as many things as we can to enable everybody to go.”
The team’s goal, said Wilson, is to raise between $2,000 and $5,000. The cost of the trip is about $2,500 for each player and her parent.
“It’s a big expense for the tournament, but we obviously want to represent Northern California and Campbell,” said Wilson.
The Crush is a summer all-star travel team for the Campbell Girls Fast Pitch Softball League. The majority of the players are 11 and under and reside in Campbell, according to Wilson.
“It’s a big deal for a little town,” he said.
For the first time, this year the team won the 10B Northern California championship on June 12, clinching a berth in the American Softball Association’s prestigious tournament coming up July 30-Aug. 5. The Crush is one of about 60 teams invited to compete in the tournament and will face opponents from all over the country.
“It’s going to be the best quality of softball for this age group,” said Wilson.
Members of the Crush squad include Adriana Martinez, Hannah Damore, Jordan Mercer, Ashley Hiraki, Alexys Blancarte, Carolyn Skotz, Jaylin Kietzke, Kiele Pozas, Lexie Wilson, Kelsey Schuster and Paulina Cerros. The head coaches are Wilson and Chad Pozas.
The spaghetti feed will take place on July 22, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Forest Hill, 4450 McCoy Ave., in San Jose.
The cost is $10 per plate for entrees provided by Outback Steakhouse and Buca di Beppo. The event also will feature $1 raffles and face painting. All proceeds will go to pay for the players’ tournament fees and travel expenses to Washington.
The Campbell Crush is accepting donations through July 28. To make an online donation, visithttp://gogetfunding.com/project/send-crush-10b-softball-to- regionals.
Campbell girls softball team hopes that the community will help, come to bat for them
