FARMINGTON -- A convoy of parents moved out Saturday morning following the Farmington baseball team on board a school bus headed to a spring break high school baseball tournament this week at Gulf Shores, Ala.
The road trip is the fruit of fundraising efforts by parents of players on the team.
"This is the first time Farmington has ever done anything like this," said Johnny Larkin, father of Cardinal third baseman senior Ryan Larkin. "It's going to be a learning experience, something these kids will remember for all of their lives. Hopefully, it's something Farmington can do every two or three years."
According to Johnny Larkin the goal was to raise $15,000. The diligence of the parents has helped exceed that.
"We actually raised around $23,000," Johnny Larkin said. "Of course, we had to spend money to make money, but the tournament is paid for."
More funds could have been raised, but the weather didn't cooperate with a tournament that had to be canceled last weekend.
"We had 47 teams lined up, that cost us," Johnny Larkin said. "If we would have had that tournament in February when it was 75 to 80 degrees outside that would have helped, but you don't know."
In spite of that setback, there is more than enough funds to pay for temporary housing at Gulf Shores, plus food and fuel for the round-trip.
"Everybody is staying in houses," Johnny Larkin said. "There will be 11 boys and a coach and a coach's family in each house."
The 700-mile one-way travel is expected to take around 12 hours for the team bus, but they won't be alone.
"Farmington travels well," Johnny Larkin said. "There are a lot of parents going (in their own vehicles)."
Farmington played two games on Monday against Hackleberg, Ala., and Spring Hill, out of Columbia, Tenn., and one Tuesday versus First Assembly Christian, of Cordova, Tenn., with two more scheduled for Wednesday against Sylacauga, Ala. After round-robin play, the top two teams from each pool will play a four-team single-elimination tournament on Thursday. The tournament is being held at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex.
Sports on 03/22/2017