All-star parents begin fundraiser for world series
Published 4:42 pm Wednesday, July 17, 2019
VALLEY — The 9 and 10-year-old Valley all-star baseball team is thankful for all of the support that they have received, but the team is now looking for help from the community to get to the Dixie Youth Baseball World Series in Lumberton, North Carolina.
Parents have begun a fundraiser on Facebook.
Valley parks and recreation director Laurie Blount said that the city of Valley will cover the costs of the family motel rooms and the new Alabama jerseys for the team. Parents will have to pay for the food, travel and daily admission into the tournament.
“Twelve Valley families will drive 450+ miles to Lumberton, North Carolina, to make this trip with their player/team on July 24.” the post from team parent Jonie Coker House reads. “We have overnight accommodations through Sunday, with the potential to play through Tuesday for the title game. Therefore, this could end up being a weeklong stay.”
The all-stars made history on Tuesday afternoon in Tuscaloosa after defeating Ashford 10-4. Parents took the three-hour trip down to Tuscaloosa for the five-day trip.
The win clinched the first 9 and 10-year-old baseball state championship for Valley, and it was the department’s first state championship since 2003 with the 14 and 15-year-old all-star baseball team that went to South Dakota for the world series. The team’s record stands at 10-0 after going undefeated through the district and state tournaments.
“Please consider any donation to help alleviate some of the costs associated with this tournament,” House wrote. “Since we began this journey, this community has gone above and beyond to stand behind this team and their families. There truly are no words to express how thankful we all are to live in a city that supports us like Valley. The fundraising page has raised over $1,800 in under a day after 32 people donated. The page said the goal is to reach $5,500.
Sponsors that donate more than $150 will have their name featured on the “Team Alabama” banner that will be at the world series.