Campaign launched to raise money for touring professional softball teams

I wrote about the Carolina Diamonds professional fastpitch softball team playing at Five County Stadium in Zebulon last year. At the time, they were traveling around the country, playing other professional women's softball teams.

This year, there is a crowd funding campaign to bring the team through the Carolinas again this summer. Crowd funding or sourcing is when groups raise money through individuals, usually online, for a specific purpose.

Through the online crowd sourcing site Indiegogo.com, Pro Softball Tour is seeking to raise at least $18,000 by July 8. The group hopes to bring two full rosters of players and coaches to play in three-game tournaments in three to four locations across North and South Carolina. The total cost needed to cover all of the expenses is about $50,000.

The campaign's supporters will receive perks, including Carolina Diamonds gear to game tickets.

"This is such a great sport," she tells me, "... advancing women's professional athletics and giving young girls wonderful role models - it would be a shame to let it fade away.