The Mountville Indians youth baseball team will host a barbecue fundraiser at Mountville Elementary School, 200 College Ave., Mountville, on Saturday, June 24. Meals are available exclusively for prepurchase and will be able to be picked up from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Each meal will be sold for a set price and will include a half-chicken from Peters' BBQ, a baked potato, applesauce, a roll with butter and a beverage. To purchase a meal, visit https://tinyurl.com/bbqfundraisermville or contact Danielle Wieckowski at dtodd_0802@msn.com.

This is the second year that the Mountville Indians have hosted a chicken barbecue fundraiser, and the team also participates in various other events to raise money for its endeavors. At the beginning of their season, the players engaged in Hit-A-Thon, a home run hitting contest where each player has an individual sponsor. During the contest, every player was allotted 25 pitches and an opportunity to slug a ball over the fences. The players' sponsors donated to the team for each hit. The team also received support from local businesses that sponsor its banner, which is displayed at each game and tournament.

The money raised from the team's fundraising efforts will cover the cost of its participation in the 2023 12U tournament at Cooperstown Dreams Park in July. The Mountville Youth Athletic Association covers the basic expenses of the team, and each family pays for uniforms and equipment individually, but the fundraisers are needed to allow the team to travel to New York for the tournament. "We want the players to have this opportunity without the burden of the financial piece," Wieckowski said. "The players are very excited; it's a big tradition in the youth baseball world."

During the tournament, over 90 teams will travel from across the country to compete. The players on the Mountville Indians have been preparing all season for the tournament, which will entail playing against at least six to seven teams over the course of a week. Throughout the season, the players participate in regular games and weekend tournaments to get ready for their trip to Cooperstown. The final game of the series will be played under the lights of the stadium before a large crowd, accompanied by a spectacle of fireworks.

The Mountville Indians has participated in the tournament for over 15 years, and the tournament is famous for seeing participation from players who go on to play in the major leagues. Bryce Harper, who plays for the Philadelphia Phillies, once played in the youth tournament at Cooperstown Dreams Park.

"I'm looking forward to playing baseball with my teammates and meeting friends from other teams," said Jake Martin, a player on the Mountville Indians.

"We practice a lot, and all of our players are getting time pitching, as we will play a lot of games at Cooperstown," added teammate CJ Rupp.