Former Paloma Valley grad focus of memorial softball game Sunday

Afton Williamson

Paloma Valley High School in Menifee will hold a softball game Sunday celebrating the life of softball player Afton Williamson, who graduated from the high school in 2007.

After leaving Paloma Valley, Williamson went on to play at Riverside Community College, and had just transferred this year to Dickinson State University in North Dakota. On Nov. 3, after being reported missing for 48 hours, Williamson and two of her teammates were found dead inside a sports utility vehicle in a North Dakota pond.

Williamson’s former coach at the high school, Sondra Diaz, said she wanted to do something more than a memorial service to honor the former athlete.

“We wanted to do something fun and upbeat to celebrate her,” Diaz said. “She loved softball, and she would have loved seeing her family and friends having a good time out on the field.”

For $10, participants will get a T-shirt bearing the No. 9 in honor of Williamson. A snack bar serving food donated by the Pizza Factory of Menifee will be available and all funds raised will go toward the Afton Williamson Memorial Scholarship Fund through the Riverside Community College District.

The game begins at noon Sunday on Paloma Valley’s softball field at 31375 Bradley Road, Menifee, 92584.

Diaz is encouraging the community to come and be a part of it, and said that 75 to 100 participants have already pre-ordered T-shirts. To sign-up for the game and order a T-shirt, e-mail Diaz at sdiaz@puhsd.org, or call 951-672-6030, ext. 2614.

Maggie Avants is the education editor for SWRNN. Comments or story suggestions can be sent to mavants.swrnn@gmail.com. Follow SWRNNedu on Twitter!

Tags: afton williamson, Afton Williamson Memorial Scholarship Fund, Dickinson State University, paloma valley high school, Riverside Community College District, Sondra Diaz, SWRNN

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