VIDALIA — Being a part of a traveling youth sports team isn’t cheap. Tournament fees, gas and lodging will eat up a budget in a hurry.

That’s why the Lil’ Vidalia Angels softball team is having a fundraiser spaghetti plate dinner today.

The Angels will have spaghetti plates which include green beans, homemade rolls and a cake slice, for sale at the Vidalia Recreation Center for $6 each from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The money raised will go toward funding trips to tournaments during the summer, including the World Series in Fayetteville, Ark.

“We played in a tournament in Meridian and finished fourth, then we won a Memorial Day weekend tournament in Eunice, La.,” Said Tina Thompson, whose husband Paul is one of the team’s coaches, “We usually play until the end of July but after that last tournament, all of the money is gone. We want to go to another couple of tournaments, which is why we’re having the fundraiser.”

Thompson said each tournament costs quite a bit of money to participate.

“The entry fee for these tournaments is usually between $175 and $250 per player,” Thompson said. “World Series tournaments are more than that. Then you have to consider gas to travel to the tournament site as well as lodging, it’s not cheap at all.”

The Angels team is made up of 12 players age 10 and under. The team was started by coaches Donald Bertelsen and Bill Harrell and some of the players have been playing together for three years.

Thompson said the team is lots of fun for the girls.

“They play a lot of games out in the boiling sun, but they hang in there great,” Thompson said. “They’re doing really great. We’re proud of them. They represent Vidalia well.”

Thompson said that while the team enjoys the tournaments, she hopes that one day the Vidalia recreation complex will be complete and the team can perhaps host some tournaments of their own.

“We hope to one day host tournaments here at home,” Thompson said. “That would bring some good revenue to the Miss-Lou.”

For more information about the spaghetti plate fundraiser, contact Thompson at 601-446-2229. Patrons may also fax in their order at 601-442-8551.