The Capital City Crush competitive softball organization held a fundraiser barbecue in the Schulte's IGA parking lot in Jefferson City Saturday to help replace the equipment the teams lost to a fire at their practice facility last week.
Founded three years ago, Capital City Crush includes more than 60 girls on six teams: two for players ages 16 and under, one 14 and under, two 12 and under, and one 10 and under.
Capital City Crush had been renting the Cohen Auto Sales building on St. Louis Road, which caught fire due to a faulty heating device March 1 and was classified as a total loss. The softball teams' lost equipment included two pitching machines, three batting cages, several L screens, and various other training equipment including tees, bats and balls.
The teams practice year-round and currently are paying to use other facilities.
Among the many who came out to support the team yesterday were the Jefferson City Coca-Cola Bottling Co., which donated the use of its trailer for the fundraiser, and All Clear Pumping and Sewer, owned by Shawn Chilton and Tracy Millard-Chilton, who also own Cohen Auto Sales and donated $5,000 to the teams.
The Chilton family plans to rebuild the facility, and the teams will resume practicing there once it is completed, said Larry Hammond, Capital City Crush vice president.