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Altona Angels Softball Club hopes to invest $200,000 in facility upgrades and player development

Softball club Altona Angels is about to launch a fundraising campaign to seek financial support for their vision for growth. Rachel Wahl, the club’s coordinator, says they will be reaching out to local businesses and community leaders with the goal of raising $200,000. “The things we are focusing on are improving our playing fields to ensure a safe and professional environment; purchasing new equipment such as bats, balls, helmets and uniforms; providing financial assistance to families in need and for ensuring all girls can play, (do play); and organizing tournaments that bring communities together in Altona to support our local businesses.” In April, the club unveiled its plans for a major diamond upgrade. Changes include making all-clay infields, installing roofs on dugouts, setting up bleachers to entice passersby to stop and watch the big ball games, and making it a facility that players can be proud of to be part of it. The proposed changes would require four diamonds to be placed closer together than they are now, making it less work to organize tournaments, Wahl said. “That will make it easier for the volunteer base. I mean, volunteer bases are the key to success of a nonprofit. If we can make that a little bit easier by bringing it physically closer together, I think that will have a huge impact how often can we organize a tournament and how successful they can be.” Angels player Rylah Hildebrand anticipates the changes. “I’ve always played sports with the boys. Playing with our own quirky diamonds that are about as good as the boy’s diamonds in the park – I think it would be really cool. One of our teams practices right after school at 4 hour, which is very difficult for kids who live out of town to get there on time. So having more facilities would allow more time for practice sessions and more time for home games Dayna Wahl, a former player and now coach,. says some diamonds have improved in the past year, but more changes are needed. “We made them full of clay in fields, as much as we could. Not everyone realizes it, but it really makes a difference for the players. Just the quality (surface) on which they are allowed to play. That can only help them develop their skills.” Potential donors just need to look at the dedication of the club’s volunteer coaches to realize the value for their dollars “Many of them are parent coaches and a lot of them actually aren’t, which is phenomenal,” Rachel explains. Wahl explains: “They are still so invested in the sport that they come back to coach players who are not even their children. I would like to say a huge thank you to those volunteer coaches.” Wahl says they are finalizing the proposal to local entrepreneurs. “We will present them with a package of options on how they can donate; levels where you get certain types of advertising with this level, another type of advertising with that level. Things like jersey sponsorship or having your logo on a banner that’s posted at games, things like that.” On June 15, the club will also launch an online 50/50 raffle, Wahl said. “We’re going to call it the Dollars for Diamonds 50- 50 lottery call. I’m really excited about it because this is going to be something where we can reach people who have family far away or anyone who just wants to take part in the competition. It’ll be fun!” The club will post notices around town and on social media. Wahl says the proposed upgrades could begin this summer, as money comes in, with the hope of completing the project in 2025. The Angels will Friday June 21 will host the club’s first tournament in 12 years – a U13 League tournament and Saturday June 22, with a rain date of June 23 ~With files from Candace Derksen~