Hellas Softball working to qualify for 2028 Olympics!
INTRODUCTION TO THE JOURNEY
With the conclusion of the 2024 Paris Olympics, Greek American Sports would like to make the community aware of an exciting oppurtunity. Community members internationally have decided to put together a Greek team entry into Women's Softball for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Embark on an epic Greek adventure alongside the esteemed Hellas National Softball Team (HNST) as they set sail on a quest to secure a spot in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, California.
Similar to the legendary exploits of Odysseus in Homer's timeless tale, these dedicated athletes are fueled by their deep connection to their Greek heritage and unwavering commitment to represent their homeland on the world stage at the pinnacle of athletic competition - the Olympic Games.
Most of the Greek softball players live in North America and are highly competitive college
athletes at top universities. Softball is relatively new in Greece with limited opportunities for
athletes to compete at high levels.
In order to compete for Greece, these formidable Greek athletes delved into their ancestral roots, traced their family histories, and obtained Greek citizenship to proudly don the blue and white colors of Greece.
Greek athletes from the United States, Canada, and Greece will showcase their exceptional
softball skills in European competitions and in doing so, will elevate Greece to prominence in the sport of softball.
CALL FOR SUPPORT
Join the Hellas National Softball Team (HNST) on this epic 4-year journey to qualify for the 2028 Olympics by supporting Hellas Softball with a donation. This herculean effort will requirethe financial support of the entire Greek diaspora. Every dollar raised will directly fund the athletes and coaches in international competitions.
The Hellas Baseball Softball Federation (HBSF) receives an annual grant of approximately 12,000€/$13,000 from the Greek Government which covers WBSC Europe membership fees and some of its administrative expenses. A significant amount of additional funding is needed to cover the cost of our coaches and athletes to compete in 2024 as well as the cost of new, elite competition essentials for our athletes.
Today, each athlete must fundraise or pay $1,500 per competition AND pay their own airfare in order to represent Greece in international competitions. Furthermore, it cost $15,000 to send the team’s three coaches, Coaches Jay Nelson, Mistey Beaver, and Laurie Markatos, to each international competition, with three scheduled in 2024.
When you donate to the HNST, we will carry your support with them and they will send you updates on their endeavors as they travel to Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, Kutno, Poland, and Utrecht, Netherlands this summer.
All uniform and equipment expenses have been covered through the generous donations from the following official team sponsors:
- AHEPA Senior Living - $20,000 donation – Uniforms
- Love, Yiayia - $7,500 donation – Travel and Practice Attire
- Love, Yiayia - $3,000 donation – Softball Bags
- Daughters of Penelope Achaia #54 – $2,500 - Cleats
- Sullo & Sullo, LLP – $2,000 – Helmets
Donors who have contributed to the expenses of the coaches and players include the following supporters:
- Hellenic Community Vancouver, BC - $4,400
o Alex G. Tsakumis
o Greek Orthodox Community of East Vancouver
o Hellenic community of Surrey
o AHEPA District 26
- Daughters of Penelope Thamyris #272 - $1,000
How can YOU support Greece’s national softball team? Click on the link to donate to the team, individual players, or coaches.
WHO ARE THE ATHLETES
Get to know the Hellas National Softball Team! Elite Athletes from North America and Greece ranging in ages from 16 – 30 comprise the team and compete in international competitions including the Women’s and U22 European Championships and Canada Cup.
The program was established in 1997 and the team has competed in the 2004 Olympics in their homeland of Greece, WBSC World Cup (2006, 2016), WBSC European Championships (2003, 2005, 2007, 2015, 2017, 2022), and Canada Cup (2023). The team has a full calendar of competitions over the next four years on their road to qualify for the 2028 Olympic Games, which will be held in Los Angeles, California.
Loren Stavrou of Long Beach, CA was the first recruit from North America. This summer marks her 11th year as a pitcher for the Hellas National Softball Team. Her sister Zoe Stavrou joined shortly after. In the softball world, the sports run deep in families which explains why there are presently 5 sets of sisters on the team which include Evangeline and Constantina Bournias of Groose Pointe, MI, Dimitra and Zoe Milonopoulos of Old Bridge, NJ, Georgia and Theophane Polydoros of Houston, TX, and Julia and Gianna Apostolakos of Beachwood, NJ.
FEDERATION AND COACHES
The Hellenic Baseball Softball Federation (HBSF) President Kostis Liarommatis of Athens
selected NEW Head Coach Jay Nelson in the fall of 2023. Coach Jay retired as head coach of Rutgers University in 2018 and brings over 20 years of experience as an NCAA Division I
coach. His decision to come out of retirement to coach Greece’s national team was fueled by his love of Greece and Greek culture, and the challenge to lead the Hellas National Softball Team to earn a spot in the 2028 Olympic Games. The HBSF also selected Assistant Coach Misty Beaver and Assistant Coach Laurie Markatos to lead the team.
HOW TO JOIN AND MORE INFORMATION
If you or someone you know is interested in being considered for the Hellas National Softball Team send an email to hellas.softball.gr@gmail.com and fill out the survey using this link https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/N93RR5T
Use this link to make a donation fundrazr.com/hellas.softball.gr
For all the information on the Hellas National Softball Team go to greeksoftball.gr/, and to view the HNST Media Kit, click on this link
