South Texas Thunder
By FRANCISCO E. JIMENEZ
Staff Writer
reporter@sbnewspaper.com
A local youth softball team is gearing up to compete on the national stage, but first they must find a way to cover their travel expenses.
Armando Ruvio is the head coach of the South Texas Thunder, a softball team based out of San Benito. His team, made up of girls who range in age from 7 to 9, is using all resources at their disposal to raise the money necessary to fund their trip to Disney World in Orlando Florida, the site of the USSSA World Series from July 12-19
“It’s a national tournament,” Ruvio explained. “It’s the ESPN World Series at Disney in Florida.”
Ruvio said that the team must raise at least $35,000 for the trip and are hustling just as much as they do on the softball field to raise the funds.
“We’re doing as many fundraisers as we can fit in between our tournaments,” Ruvio said. “We’re a traveling team, so we travel throughout the Valley, up to Corpus Christi, San Antonio and Houston. We travel up there to get a little bit better competition and get our girls ready for the World Series.”
Among the numerous fundraisers being held for the team is a 5K run/walk, which will be held at the Heavin Resaca Trail in San Benito on May 3, as well as selling food items at the Beach-N-Biker Fest at South Padre Island from April 11-13.
The Thunder have proven so prolific in their victories that Ruvio found difficulty recalling the team’s record.
“I couldn’t even tell you because we’ve played so much. I would say, just a rough estimate, maybe 45-4,” said Ruvio about his team record as the reigning Pony Shetland National Champions. “We went to Louisiana in 2012, and we brought back a national title.”
The team is also coached by Jessie Sanchez, Jessie Martinez and Edward Guzman.
To help sponsor the Thunder’s trip to Florida, call Ruvio at (956) 202-1271.
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