By Kierra Long
The softball team came together to help one of their own on April 7 in their annual fundraiser game. They raised $500 for the Children’s Heart Association in honor of Olivia Sosa, Coach Sosa’s four-year-old daughter who was born with Congenital Heart Disease.
“We try to play for fundraisers every year,” Coach Sosa said. “Most of them are successful, and I am so proud of my team and how hard they work.”
To make the fundraiser game happen, the Green Valley Gators took on the role of opponent. Although the Cougs won 14-7, without the Gators, there would have been no game and therefore no funds raised. Along with fundraising, the Gators put together a gift basket for Olivia which included stuffed animals, books, crayons and markers, coloring books, and other toys.
“Olivia is just four years old and every time she comes out to our games she exudes so much happiness and life,” Captain Veronica Jarchow, senior, said. “She’s been out on the field since she was born, and we love to have her around. We are also very grateful for everything Green Valley did for Olivia and the game. They put together a giant gift basket for Olivia and her sister and helped us raise money.”
This year the teams raised a total of $1,000 dollars total; $500 dollars went towards the Children’s Heart Association and $500 to the 50/50 raffle winner sophomore Tori Jones.
“The game against Green Valley was super important to everyone in the softball program because it was for someone close to everyone’s hearts,” Captain Tatum Spangler, senior, said. “Olivia, puts a smile on every face, and we wanted to help raise awareness for the incurable heart disease she has. Coach Sosa and her family have been through a lot in the past year, and we want to help them out in any way possible. The Sosa family has always supported us and now it was our time for Coronado Softball to support them.”
