UPDATED: Sierra Madre All-Stars Inch Closer to Fundraising Goal

After a week of fundraising, the Sierra Madre Girls Softball All-Star team has raised about $12,000 of the $20,000 needed to send the club to the ASA 14-under “B” Fast Pitch West National Championship in Spokane, Wash., from Aug. 1-7.

The team advanced to the championships on the heels of a second place finish in the Southern California State Championships in Lancaster held July 8-10.

The team held a car and bike at Taylors’ Ol’ Fashioned Meat Market as well as a bake sale outside a local CHASE Bank last Saturday. Both events were successful, said team manager Linda Sparks, and now they're holding a few more events this week in order to get over the hump.

On Tuesday there will be a silent auction at on 31 North Baldwin Avenue, where a portion of bill also will be donated to the team.

The auction will run from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Just bring the attached flyer or simply mention SMGSA to participate in the silent auction.

Then on Thursday the team will host a Pacos Fundraiser & Raffle Drawing located at Paco's Mexican Restaurant in Arcadia. The event will run from 5-9 p.m.

Local businesses also can sign up to sponsor the team at levels ranging from Grand Slam Sponsor ($5,000) to Softball Supporter ($100). Tax-deductible checks of support can be made out to: SMGSA and sent to SMGSA, Western National Championships, P.O. Box 1055, Sierra Madre, CA 91025. The non-profit’s tax-exempt number is 95-3297156. 

While the 15-girl squad represents Sierra Madre, the team is made up of players from all over the San Gabriel Valley: Becca Hanel (Sierra Madre), Alexi Zate (Sierra Madre), Katie Sparks (Sierra Madre), Breana Howard (Pasadena), Katherine Knop (Pasadena), Kiki Shuster (Arcadia), Marisa and Maxine Fuentes (El Monte), Lauren Romo (San Gabriel), Kaylee Johnson (Monrovia), Kelly Crowley (San Marino), Austen Hustler (Duarte), Lauren Gomez (San Gabriel), Hailey Vasquez (Temple City) and Miranda Bielski (Altadena).