GoFundme Campaign Set Up To Help Cover Costs
For the first time ever, the Rockbridge Area Recreation Organization had an All-Star team at the state tournament. The RARO 8-and-under girls softball All-Stars were runners-up in the tournament during the last week of June.
The team, under the direction of head coach Chase Perry, is the first RARO squad to advance to the Babe Ruth World Series, which will take place from July 24 to Aug. 2 at the Florence Sportsplex in Florence, Ala.
The state tournament took place in Glen Allen. The RARO team opened tournament play with a 15-2 win over Greene on June 25. They followed up the same day with a 21-12 victory over Manassas Grey. On June 27, the RARO team rolled to an 18-7 win, racking up 21 hits, scoring in every inning.
The next day, the RARO team played three games, nearly back-to-back. They started with a 15-5 win over Varina and then rallied for a 14-6 victory over Rockville, again racking up 21 hits. In the championship game, facing Greater Manassas, the RARO team battled hard, taking an early lead by scoring runs on an error, but Greater Manassas answered with a big first inning and dealt the RARO team a 15-5 loss. RARO recorded 10 hits in the game.
Perry is organizing a GoFundme campaign to cover travel, lodging and meal expenses for the RARO team’s upcoming trip to Alabama, titled “Help RARO 8u Girls Softball Reach the World Series.” Proud of his players for their hard work, Perry said, “This is an amazing group of kids, and it has been a pleasure to coach them, as they have been great representatives of the Rockbridge, Lexington and Buena Vista communities.” To donate to the team, visit www.gofundme. com, or find the direct link on the RARO Facebook page.
