North Kitsap softball team raising funds to go to Western Regional tournament
North Kitsap Little League’s senior softball team is learning that travel isn’t cheap these days, as the squad prepares for the start of the Western Regional tournament in Missoula, Montana.
The team is in the process of raising funds for the tournament, which involves three days of pool play beginning Friday. Semifinals and finals are scheduled for July 26. North Kitsap Little League president Aaron Stanford said the hotel cost for five nights is nearly $20,000 — and that only covers the team through pool play. The cost will rise if North Kitsap advances deeper into the tournament.
Coaches and players are planning to drive to Montana, so there are additional gas, travel and food expenses to consider.
“It’s definitely not cheap,” Stanford said.
As of Tuesday morning, the team had raised over $3,000 through a GoFundMe account, Additionally, North Kitsap Little League has donated $5,000 and the Suquamish Tribe/Port Madison Enterprises has donated $1,500; Stanford said he is also applying for grant funding through PME.
More high school sports: Recapping the 2022 softball season in West Sound
North Kitsap defeated Mulkilteo twice during last week’s state competition to gain entry into this week’s regional tournament. It was a satisfying feeling for manager Mackenzie Willeford considering North Kitsap finished second at state in 2021, losing to Kirkland in the championship game.
Willeford said while her team is relatively young with only one 16-year-old player, the squad’s good vibes and energy shine through when it competes.
“They are just always cheering each other on, always positive,” Willeford said. “They recover really quickly from mistakes and they shake it off. They are great defensive-wise and they can hit. They’re just a great all-around team.”
Team members are Tegan Stanford, Lily Reinbold, Josephine Castillo, Nevaeh Sullivan, Kindness Williams, Rachel Martin, Rosalie Garrison, Keira Martin, Mikayla Burton, Hannah Feltis, Cadence Robles, Katelyn Rose, Aadland Goller, and Ella Arlen. Assistant coaches are Mathew Fisher and Tim Garrison.
North Kitsap is scheduled to play two teams from California on Friday; two teams from Montana on Saturday (including the host team from Missoula); and teams from Hawaii and Arizona on Sunday. The winning team from the regional tournament advances to World Series play in Delaware from Aug. 1-7.
This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: North Kitsap softball team headed to Western Regional tournament
