The McDonald County Venom fastpitch girls softball team is at the USSSA Orlando World Series. The World Series began on July 18 and ends July 25.
The Venom team thought they were robbed of their dream the night of July 3 when $1,000 worth of fireworks merchandise was stolen from the Fayetteville fireworks stand they were running to raise money to go to Orlando.
Shortly after the burglary, Emily Emmert, a mother of one of the players, said "when this burglary came out in the news, we were overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from the community as well as surrounding communities."
Using an online crowd-source fund-raising website, gofundme.com, 96 people donated a total of $6,700 -- $200 more than the goal needed so the team could make the trip. The funding plea was shared on Facebook 462 times.
Venom, playing in C class, is No. 1 in the United States Specialty Sports Association's point rating system in Missouri and No. 19 in the nation, and No. 11 in Missouri in the power ranking system.
McDonald County will welcome home this team very proudly after the World Series, win or lose, they are champions because, as Emmert said, "they've played their hearts out."
Sports on 07/23/2015