Pascack Valley Venom raises funds for trip to Cooperstown tournament
Players say the weeklong tournament is a major milestone for 12-year-old baseball teams from around the country.
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A North Jersey youth baseball team is asking for community support as players work to raise money for a once in a lifetime trip to Cooperstown, New York.
Players and families of the Pascack Valley Venom set up outside Goldberg’s Bagels on Saturday morning, ringing cowbells and greeting supporters as they held a fundraiser for their upcoming tournament at Cooperstown All Star Village.
Players say the weeklong tournament is a major milestone for 12-year-old baseball teams from around the country.
“It’s a big thing…There’s around a hundred teams there…The fields are really nice. It’s just like a big experience,” said seventh grader Liam Sager.
The team has been fundraising for months and are now about 70% of the way toward their goal.
Along with collecting donations, the team handed out St. Patrick’s Day-themed merchandise during the fundraiser. They are also asking community members to donate used sports equipment, such as baseball gloves and hockey sticks, which will be passed along to other young athletes.
Ryan Smith, owner and general manager of the team, says the trip offers these kids players a rare, and often their first, opportunity to travel, compete and spend a full week together as a team.
“It is such an experience that if you could imagine after playing 12 hours of baseball on the field, the boys go back to the bunks where they’re staying with their teammates…It’s a really fun experience,” he said.
