GRAND TERRACE >> Gabriella Kramer, a life-long Grand Terrace resident, has consistently proven her outstanding softball skills since she was seven-years-old playing for the GT Little League. Now sixteen-years-old, Kramer is already planning for her future, and softball is a top priority. An instrumental stepping-stone to a softball future is the upcoming “Colorado Sparkler” tournament. It attracts a myriad of college coaches and is a huge opportunity for college-bound softball players to be recruited. The tournament is right around the corner, in June. “She’s a natural,” her mother Kathleen said. Kramer is autistic but is very high functioning, especially when out on the field. Kramer’s travel softball team “Team Easton” heads out to the tournament next month. However, she must raise enough money to attend. According to her mother Cathleen, she has been fundraising for about a month, but her goal is to raise about $2,000. They are currently accepting donations and they also make and sell candles to help raise money for the trip. Since the tournament is a week long, she must be able to pay for her hotel, food, and all of the miscellaneous expenses that come with it. “It’s a little nerve-racking because it’s a lot of money,” Kramer explained. “But I’m staying positive and trying to be more confident.” As a young girl, Kramer tried several sports and hobbies but they just simply never worked out. Then one day, seven-year-old Kramer came home with a Grand Terrace Little League flyer and told her parents she wanted to try out. “Her father was thrilled,” Cathleen shared since her dad, Michael, used to play baseball in college. When she went to tryouts, she hadn’t been coached or taught anything about softball yet. However, that first try-out showcased Kramer’s natural talent for softball. “She was blessed with the first coaches she had,” Cathleen said. “John Campos and Rudy Garcia took her individually and really worked with her. They gave her the love of the game.” Kramer is currently home-schooled and manages to maintain a 4.0 Grade Point Average, while competitively participating in softball, serving as secretary in ASB, and doing community service. “She knows what it takes and what has to be done,” Kathleen explained. “She’s learning how to organize her time.” Her parents, Cathleen and Michael, have been trying to get a hold of travel ball teams in order to set up a try out for her. However, Kramer decided to take it into her own hands. “She did it on her own, didn’t need our help,” Kathleen chuckled. “She went online for travel teams, called the coach, set up her try out time, and he picked her up.” Kramer plays short stop for her travel team “Team Easton. “She really worked hard learning how to play with a team. It’s difficult but she’s learned," she added. “For this opportunity I have, I want to thank God, my mom and my dad,” Kramer shared. “A lot of kids want the same thing I want but I want it really bad.” Every day, she works hard, getting closer and closer to her goal of playing college ball. Even outside of practice, she spends everyday training with her father. She also wanted to extend her gratitude to her coaches Bobby and Lydia Straka. For more information on how you can help Gabriella Kramer attend the Colorado Sparkler tournament in hopes to being recruited email her mother Kathleen at: kramercathleen@yahoo.com.

Softball Star Gabriella Kramer Fundraises for Her Future