White set to compete among softball elite Bangor pitcher to attend tourney in Hawaii

Kelly White might be considered one of the top high school softball pitchers in Maine, but she knows that’s a limited honor as the teams here play just a few months of the year outdoors.

Meanwhile, in warmer parts of the country, some softball teams are able to be outside year-round.

White, a Bangor High junior, knows she’ll have a chance to test herself against some of the top players from those teams when she travels to Hawaii this winter to take part in the Tourney Sport USA Hawaii Classic.

“It’s going be great to play with people from all over the country,” White said. “I can’t wait to compete against some of these players from California, where the teams are really competitive. … [It should be] humbling. It’s going to give me fuel [to push myself].”

White is one of 200 girls from 48 states selected and one of more than 2,000 who were nominated for the tournament, which runs from Dec. 28 to Jan. 5.

White, along with Scarborough pitcher Ambre Davidson, were selected to attend the tournament, which is only open to high school juniors.

White said she first heard of the tournament when Bangor High coach Nancy Snowdeal mentioned it. Snowdeal nominated White, who was the Penobscot Valley Conference Co-Pitcher of the Year and helped the Rams to a 13-4 record last season.

White, who also plays soccer and basketball at Bangor High, was informed of her acceptance to the Hawaii tournament this summer.

Once the girls arrive in Hawaii, they’ll be divided into teams for pool play. The top teams will advance to the tourney championship round.

White said the girls will play at least one or two games a day.

This will be White’s first time traveling alone – the airports will be bigger but White said she’s not afraid to speak up if she needs anything – but it won’t be her first long trip for softball.

She was a member of the DownEast Heat, an ASA (Amateur Softball Association) team that competed in the Disney’s Fastpitch Oktoberfest Showcase at the Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla., last year.

Along the way, White has learned the value of a dollar. She’s had to raise at least $3,000 for most of her expenses including airfare from Los Angeles to Hawaii, meals and tournament expenses. She’s still working to raise the money for airfare from Maine to Los Angeles.

White has sat outside the Shaw’s supermarket near the Bangor Mall, the Marden’s in Brewer, and had a 50-50 raffle at National Folk Festival in Bangor this August.

She’s also planning raffles with prizes donated by Bangor-area businesses like the Sears department store at the Bangor Mall and the local Mr. Quik’s oil lube service centers.

“Every dollar adds up,” she said. “It makes you think about all that money you spend on fast food.”

To contact White or donate to her trip, call 299-5787 or write to 10 Allen Road, Dedham 04429.

Jessica Bloch can be reached at 990-8193, 1-800-310-8600 or jbloch@bangordailynews.net.