Softball Has Become Sisemore’s Pastime

FARMINGTON — John is coaching, Lori is cheering, Oakley is playing while Saylor and Siana are learning softball in a household where the game takes priority.

On any given weekend in the summer, the family can be found making tracks back and forth across the country, their destination – softball tournaments near and far.

John Sisemore is head coach for the Crush Elite, an 18 and under squad made up of Northwest Arkansas players competing in the Amateur Softball Association of America. This summer, the team has competed at Kansas City and Maumelle and in past seasons been drawn to tournaments as far away as Utah and Colorado.

The hobby is an expensive proposition. John Sisemore estimates tournament entry fees this season amounted to about $2,500 which were met beforehand when Harps agreed to sponsor the Crush and paid for all the entry fees.

“We fund-raise for travel. Fuel comes out of parents. Parents are responsible for getting them there,” John Sisemore said.

On July 19, the team hosted an All-night softball tournament at Prairie Grove to raise funds for a trip to Virginia. A plate supper was held prior to the tournament featuring a barbecue menu cooked by parents.

According to Brenda Foster, mother of team member, Jessica Foster (Farmington 2013), the team raffled off 30 door prizes donated by local merchants.

“The girls are going to nationals in Roanoke, Va. “I’m excited,” said Deena Brown, mother of team member, Kelbie Brown (Prairie Grove 2013). “All donations go to girls for hotels.”

Besides serving as head coach at Ecclesia College, of Springdale, John Sisemore drives a tractor in the hot summer sun farming on the side to help pay for family expenses, which if things go according to plan, includes a week-long stay at Roanoke, Va., for the girls softball 18 and under national tournament this week from July 29 through Aug. 4.

The Elite Crush qualified by winning the Arkansas state championship tournament at Maumelle on June 23.

Oakley, who is a member of the Elite Crush, said the family went to Virginia on a fishing trip for her dad when she was little but has no memories of the trip.

“There’s a lot of political history there. I’m hoping I can get a glimpse of any of that I can.”

Virginia was home to several founding fathers including the estates of George Washington at Mount Vernon and Thomas Jefferson at Monticello, which appeals to Oakley.

“Anything like that would be cool to see.”

John Sisemore said youngest daughter, Siana, 11, hangs around all these high school players continuously and thinks she’s 18 like the rest of them.

“She’s very strong-willed and an independent thinker. The older kids tend to pick on her a lot. It’s toughened her up. She idolizes Oakley and wants to be just like her.”

According to John Sisemore, Siana’s attention helps Oakley stay as a role model she thinks she needs to be.

“I like to be a positive leader and show the younger kids coming up the right way to lead,” Oakley said.

Additional team members include: Katherine Bartley, of Vilonia; Taylor Bohannan, of Huntsville; Kayla Butcher, of Pangburn; Madison Cluck, of Prairie Grove; Bethany Doty, of Springdale; Taylor Easley, of Rogers; Courtney Fields, of Elkins; Tiffany Ray, of Springdale; Payton Wiedner, of Farmington; Rebecca Wahrmund, of Nemo Vista; and Andrea Wilson, of Elkins.

John Sisemore is assisted by Shohn Doty, Frank Ray and Chris Munson.