Eph softball to play for Make-A-Wish on 15-game spring trip

WILLIAMSTOWN, MA – The Williams College softball team will be playing with extra incentive when they open their 2009 season with a 15-game Spring Break trip to California. The Ephs will be trying to win of course, but they will also be trying to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The Ephs will open their California portion of the 2009 schedule with a non-conference game vs. Hamilton College in Orange, California on March 23rd and they will conclude the trip in Redlands when they play a doubleheader against the University of Redlands on April 2nd.

"I'm really proud of how hard the 12 women on this team work on fundraising, not only for our team, but for the Relay for Life, the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation and now the Make-A-Wish Foundation," said Eph head coach Kris Herman.

The Spring Break fundraising campaign for Make-A-Wish is being called " Play Ball... For Wishes!" Senior Becky Sansone who has worked on behalf of Make-A-Wish since before arriving at Williams is credited with creating this program. "Play Ball…. For Wishes will solicit donations from members of the community, friends, family, professors, Williams students, and local businesses based on the softball team's performance on the spring trip in California," explained Sansone. "Flat donations are welcome, but additionally donators will be able to donate in five statistical categories: hits, runs scored, home runs, stolen bases, and strikeouts thrown by Eph pitchers. 

"If you donate $5 per home run and we hit 10 in California, you will donate $50," noted Sansone. "I came up with the formula for donation categories by talking to friends, family and coach Herman about what would be the most exciting way to keep up with the team and inclusive of all team members.  We wanted all donators to be able to get excited about their pledges and be able to follow our progress in California all while donating to a great cause!"

The Eph goal is to raise $5,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation on the spring trip. $5,000 is an ambitious goal, but keep in mind that when Sansone was in high school in New Jersey (Voorhees HS/Glen Gardner, NJ) she held a fundraiser to build a walkway at her school and raised over $10,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Jersey.

Following the last home game on April 25 the Ephs will present a check to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Massachusetts and you can help make it a grand slam by joining as a donor.

Donations are being accepted online here.