Visalia high school athletes to play with 2008 Olympic Softball Team at Exhibition Game

Four Visalia high school athletes have been chosen to play with the 2008 U.S. Olympic Softball Team during an Exhibition Game at the Visalia Miracle League field on Friday, May 16.
 
The four athletes are Ashley Garcia, Redwood High School; Lauren Blair, Golden West High School; Kristen Alburn, El Diamante High School; and Raquel Garcia, Mt. Whitney High School.
 
The softball players were chosen based on recommendations from the high schools’ athletic directors and essays submitted to the Miracle League Board of Directors.
 
“This is an exciting opportunity for these young women to be able to play with the world’s finest softball players, right here in Visalia,” said Visalia Miracle League founder Gary Geiger. “The Exhibition Game will be a memorable event for them and for the crowd.”  
 
The last-ever US Olympic Softball Team is in Visalia to support the Visalia Miracle League in its sixth annual fundraiser on Thursday, May 15, featuring former Dodger star Steve Garvey as emcee.
 
Over the past six years, the Miracle League of Visalia has been able to raise more than $1 million by bringing some of the biggest names in professional sports and entertainment to Tulare County.
 
The 2008 fundraiser dinner will be held at Visalia First Assembly, which is adjacent to the Miracle League field, near Caldwell and Akers. Returning this year will be a silent auction, featuring sports memorabilia from Mounted Memories, the country’s largest memorabilia corporation, and the lively Miracle League live auction.

 
The Exhibition Game on Friday, May 16, will be played on the Miracle League’s new second field, created with the continued generosity of the community and countless volunteers. This regulation size softball field, complete with dirt infield and grass outfield, is for more able-bodied adult players.    
 
Tickets for the fundraiser dinner event are $125.  Sponsorship packages are available at varying levels of support. With these packages comes the opportunity to meet and dine with the Olympians. VIP access to the coaches and team members will begin at 5 p.m. and the doors will open to the general public at 6:30 p.m.
 
Tickets for the Exhibition Game are $20 general admission; $30 VIP seating. Discounts are available for blocks of 25 or more tickets.
 
Tickets are available at the Press Boxx collectible shop at Walnut and Demaree in Visalia. For information on sponsorship packages, call Gary Geiger at 559-635-1478.  VISA, Master Card, Discover, American Express and personal checks are accepted.
 
THE MIRACLE LEAGUE of Visalia, located at Akers and Caldwell, allows disabled people of all ages to be a part of baseball in a way that would not otherwise be possible.  Miracle League participants are paired with “Buddies” who are able to compete in sports of all kinds and in other areas of life.  These “Buddies” assist players on the totally handicapped-accessible Miracle League playing surface in games that allow everyone to get a hit and score a run in each inning.  The current Miracle League season will open March 20 with games at 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and 12 p.m.  Games are played on Saturdays each spring and fall.
 
For information visit, www.visaliamiracleleague.com.