Snyder to speak at Fallon fund-raiser

After qualifying for the World Series in February, the Fallon Mustangs traveling baseball team turns to its biggest fundraiser to help cover the travel expenses.

The 12-and-under baseball club will host a community dinner on Friday, April 29, at 6 p.m. at the Fallon Convention Center. Kirk Snyder, a former University of Nevada basketball standout and now a small forward on the Utah Jazz, has agreed to be the guest speaker for the dinner.

Tickets cost $50 per person or $400 for a reserved table of eight.

Getting Snyder to be the dinner speaker was a top priority for the team, and it took time because of the Jazz playing on an extensive road trip.

"It was difficult to get in touch with him (Snyder)," said Mustangs skipper Tim Oney. "He was interested in it and was all for it."

Snyder averaged 18.8 points last season for the Wolf Pack, which advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history. The former college standout ended his season with a 43.1 field goal percentage and shot more than 73 percent from the free throw line.

Snyder has played in 66 games for the Jazz this season and averages just under 13 minutes and 4.9 points per game.

Oney said they are aiming to have members of the Nevada basketball team make an appearance, but it could be difficult because the team is recruiting for the 2005-2006 season.

With the tournament victory in February, the Mustangs face the financial obstacle of raising between $20,000-$30,000 by the summer. The United States Specialty Sports Association AAA Division World Series tournament takes place July 10-17 in Hutchinson, Kan.

So far, the team has collected about a fifth of the costs from its instructional camp, donations and car washes. The Mustangs will rely on the dinner to help with the remainder of the expenses along with a couple of car washes planned for next month.

"We have a long ways to go," said Oney, who is working with Ron Cornu and Ken Tye.

"We're hoping the dinner will help us out quite a bit."

Seventeen players participate on this year's traveling team including Colton Oney, Miles Adams, Jeremiah Mauga, Cody Gorder, Donovan Marshall, Hadley Faught, Zach Harvey, Conner Matheson, Tommy Stockard, Hayden Buckmaster, Roman Hucks, Clint Oney, Chad Oney, Alonzo Williams, Thaaron Kalt, Frankie de Braga and Mitchell Downing.

All 17 players also compete in the Cal Ripken division of Fallon Youth Baseball.

For more information about the dinner or to reserve tickets, please call either Ken or Shelly at Digitex, (775) 423-8852.