UC Clermont softball players pose during the team’s fundraiser on Nov. 18.

UC Clermont softball players pose during the team’s fundraiser on Nov. 18.
By Chris Chaney
Sun staff

The UC Clermont College women’s softball team isn’t afraid to work for what it wants, whether it is on the field or in a restaurant like they were on Tuesday, Nov. 18.

The ladies from the team held what has turned into an annual fundraiser last week at Rincon Mexicano in Eastgate between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. during which members of the team helped to seat, wait on and entertain patrons at the restaurant.

“The girls have to fund raise every year. We are in the athletic budget, but the girls need to raise funds for supplemental things,” team mom and scorekeeper Melissa Allen said. “Each fundraiser is typically designated for a future purchase and this one was designated for team jackets.

“Our season runs from February to May and oftentimes we play in snow. The NCAA requires that numbers must be on the apparel they wear (while playing), so the girls are getting insulated jackets this year.”

Now in their third year teaming up with Rincon and owner Eric Viars, the Lady Cougars were the first group or organization who were willing to work for their funds, rather than just ask for a donation. The team receives 20 percent of the evening’s revenue from the three-hour period the Lady Cougars were helping out.

“Each girl has a bio that they put on the tables that they wait on so that they could meet and talk to the patrons,” Allen explained. “(The bio) has where they went to school, what they’re going to school for now, some likes, dislikes and some interesting facts about them.

“There’s a lot of mingling between them and the patrons, which is kind of the point of fund raising.”

Aside from helping out the normal staff at Rincon Mexicano, the Lady Cougars held a split the pot that raised $208 for the team. Patron Chris Peters was the recipient of the other half of the pot, but generously donated his portion back to the team, Allen said.

While the amount of money raised via the restaurant’s revenue weren’t available at the time of publication, Allen said that she believes the team should have raised enough money to cover the cost of the jackets for the upcoming season.

Aside from their Rincon fundraiser, the UC Clermont softball team also works the Flying Pig Marathon each year. The race will be held on May 3, 2015.

The team also reaches out to the community and up-and-coming softball players by hosting clinics for youth softball players throughout the season.

Other fundraising efforts on the books for the Lady Cougars in the next few months include selling banner advertisements to be attached to the outfield fence at the Batavia Township Center Softball Field. The team is using funds that they have raised to honor Mount Saint Joseph University basketball player Lauren Hill.

The Lady Cougars 2015 season gets underway on Saturday, Feb. 28 when they travel to Berea College in Berea, Ky. They will play their home opener on Sunday, March 1 when Pikeville comes to town for a 1 p.m./3 p.m. doubleheader.

For more information on the UC Clermont softball team, log on to the school’s athletic website at ucclermont.edu/athletics.