The fundraiser will be held July 9 at ProBuild from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and it's to help pay the fees for Hunter Martin and Brooke McClenny to attend prospect camps so college coaches can estimate how the girls would fit with one team or the other, says Martin, who is Hunter's father and a coach to both girls.

The girls, rising seniors who play at Roanoke Rapids High School, have already been noticed by numerous colleges in the state through their play in the U-18 College Showcase, which pits them against some of the toughest competition in the nation.

(Tickets are being sold in advance. Delivery available with 10 or more sales. For more information contact Martin at 252-676-9127 or 252-535-1127)

The fundraiser is to help pay the fees of these camps, which range anywhere from $150 to $350, Martin said. “We're doing this to help these young ladies. They're very intelligent and excel on the field and excel in the classroom. They're well liked in school and I don't think anyone has anything bad to say about them.”

Prospects camps are much like combines at the professional sports level. “It's a smaller venue to show their talent,” Martin said. “They go through fielding, hitting and pitching and do mixed scrimmages with some of the college girls.”

Invitations to the camps come through their play in tournaments. “The last two tournaments we've been to coaches have come and watched them play.”

The tournaments have taken them to Virginia, Georgia and South Carolina and there is the potential to go to Oregon. “That's how serious they are to get to the next level. Coming from a small area they've got to get exposure.”

Ahead of the fundraiser, in which Wes Tripp and Scott Hall will be cooking pork chops, potatoes and string beans for $8, donations have already come in.

Today, for instance, Tracy Story of Discount Tire made a donation to the girls in memory of Mike Newsome.

“Tracy Story advised that this donation was made in Mr. Newsome's honor because he has touched their lives in some way throughout their softball careers,” Martin said.

Story has agreed that July 6 through July 8 he will buy the fundraiser plate for anyone who makes a purchase at his business located on Tenth Street.

Both girls have college aspirations, Brooke either wanting to go into education or psychology and Hunter wanting to earn a degree in sports medicine and become a physical therapist.

And that's what it's about, Martin said. “It's not because of my daughter. If it was someone else I would step up. That's what it's about — looking to get those scholarships.”