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Venom Volleyball player dies in crash BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI
V Goodyear pickleball club hosting firefighter charity
NEWS ............ 14 ‘Daughters’ preserve history
BUSINESS...... 23 Old Chicago Pizza, more open in Goodyear
OPINION ...............18 BUSINESS.............. 23 SPORTS ..................24 FEATURES ..............26 OBITUARIES ...........34 CLASSIFIEDS ..........35 EAST
February 9, 2022
The Voice of the West Valley for 36 years
West Valley View Executive Editor
NEWS .............. 8
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enom Volleyball Club prides itself on being a family. That family and the volleyball community nationwide are supporting the volunteer-driven Goodyear team after it was involved in a crash on the way to the Lone Star National Qualifier at the Austin Convention Center in Texas Feb. 3. One high school-aged girl, who has yet to be identified, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to a source. Two other athletes, an alumnus and two mothers were also injured, said the team’s owner, Jimmy Gonzalez. The crash happened on highway 377 near Junction, Texas, when the SUV’s driver, a mother, hit black ice, spun, crossed over into oncoming traffic and hit a semi head on. They were driving because their flight was
canceled due to inclement weather. “We did our due diligence, and there was no reason for us to tell them not to drive there,” Gonzalez said. “They looked at road conditions, and they looked good. I asked him to report to me every two hours. The last note we received from them said they were two hours away from Austin. I thought they were going to be safe, so I went to bed around 8:30, 9 o’clock. “Then I received a call from the coach, who was already in Austin. She said she just got word that there was a tragic accident, could I confirm this. There were a lot of tears. I couldn’t even understand.” As the night went on, Gonzalez continued to receive information. “I was able to speak to one of the moth-
Crash...continued on page 3
The Goodyear-based Venom Volleyball Club was involved in a crash in Texas that claimed the life of one of the players. (Photo courtesy of GoFundMe)
Cactus League on the ropes for 3rd year BY KEN SAIN
West Valley View Staff Writer
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pring is coming, but it appears Cactus League baseball will be delayed. Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to start reporting on Valentine’s Day, but instead of peanuts and Cracker Jacks, baseball fans will likely get broken hearts. A labor dispute is threatening the Cactus League season. If it delays the start, it will be the third straight year that Spring Training in Arizona suffered.
“The Cactus League is the crown jewel of Arizona tourism,” said Kim Sabow, president and CEO of the Arizona Lodging and Tourism Association. “There is most definitely a ripple effect that permeates our entire economy.” Baseball owners locked out players once the previous collective bargaining agreement expired on Dec. 2. MLB Players Association leaders have said they gave up too much in the most recent agreements and they are determined to get some of that back.
The Associated Press reported that the average salary for Major League Baseball players has dropped from about $4.1 million in 2018 to $4.05 million in 2019 and $3.89 million in 2020 (based on a whole season). The median MLB salary last year was down 6% from where it was in 2017. AP said the last time salaries were this low was in 2015. Owners, however, don’t want to give up their gains. Both sides are hoping that as fi-
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