The Oakland Athletics, San Francisco Giants and Comcast SportsNet have donated $15,000 to offset travel costs to Pennsylvania for the families of the Petaluma Little League team that is playing in the World Series this week.
The Petaluma National team won the West Region Championship Saturday in San Bernardino and on Thursday will play the Fairfield, Conn. team that won the New England Region title.
Oakland A's outfielder Jonny Gomes is a product of Petaluma.
The Petaluma Little League estimates it will cost a minimum of $2,500 for a family member to travel to South Williamsport, Pa.
Little League International covers the travel expenses of the players and coaches but not the players' families.
There are eight United States teams and eight international teams competing for the Little League championship between Aug. 16 and 26.The game at noon Thursday is being broadcast on ESPN and will be shown on the big screen at Boulevard Cinema in downtown Petaluma.
Tickets are $15 and also will go toward families' travel expenses. Restaurants in Petaluma have been raising money for traveling expenses.
The winner of the Petaluma-Fairfield, Conn. game plays again on Sunday and the loser will play Saturday. Boulevard Cinema also will show the Petaluma team's second game.
-- Bay City News
