NATCHEZ &045; The Bonnie Blues, a local summer tournament softball team, recently qualified for the USSSA World Tournament that takes place next Wednesday through Saturday in Thomson, Ga.

However, because the Blues do not play are an independent team without league affiliation, they need to raise enough money to participate in the tournament.

Sandra Bailey, the &uot;team mom&uot; and treasurer, said the Bonnie Blues need to raise around $1,500 to have enough money for such things as registration fees, hotel rooms and meals.

&uot;We’re going to different businesses asking for donations to go to the World Tournament,&uot; said Ashley Mitchell, one of the 12 players currently on the team.

But this is nothing new for the Blues, who had to raise enough money to play in other tournaments earlier this summer.

The Bonnie Blues are also selling raffle tickets at $2 each. Gifts being given away for the drawing, which will be held next Monday, are lunch for two at Pearl Street Pasta; a gift certificate for one pound of fudge from Darby’s Gifts; a free oil change at Mike’s Tire; a free oil change at Goodyear Tires; a $25 gift certificate at The Flower Station; Pig Out Inn; a gift from Dianne’s Frame Shop; and a one-week free pass at Highland Health Club.

&uot;Any kind of donation is welcome,&uot; Bailey said.

Contact Bailey at 601-445-0803 or Stacy Brown at 601-446-9379 about purchasing raffle tickets or for more information about making donations.

The Bonnie Blues are comprised of Mitchell, Brown, Sarah Weaver, Karmethia Mazique, Tracy Davis, Tasha Davis, Mable Green, Kristen Cox, Ashley Wood, Wennifer Noble, Tara Gillespie and Lana Shoemaker. The coaches are David Davis and Thomas Bailey.

&uot;We’re a Miss-Lou team,&uot; Bailey said. &uot;We have one player from Vidalia who’s a pitcher. We have several players from Natchez High and ACCS.&uot;

One member of the team who will not be able to play in the World Tournament is Tiffany Collier, who had to go back to the Marines recently.

The Blues qualified by winning the Mississippi NSA State Tournament and finishing second in several other tournaments.

In the state tournament, the Blues won their first game, lost their second game and battled out of the loser’s bracket to play the Meridian Bulldogs in the championship game.

&uot;We were behind 14-8 in the state championship game and came from behind to win 16-14,&uot; Bailey said. &uot;A lot of our girls are college girls. A few of them just graduated from high school.&uot;

&uot;We’ve all played together for years,&uot; Mitchell said.