SOFTHEARTED; SOFTBALL PLAYERS TOUCHED BY DONATIONS.

Byline: Lee Barnathan Daily News Staff Writer

The phone rang. An elderly man was on the line. He wanted to donate money to the Sylmar softball all-stars.

He wanted team manager Laura Acosta to come to Granada Hills to collect. He had pancreatic cancer and not much longer to live, he explained later.

``When you girls come back, I hope to still be alive, and please call me,'' he told Acosta.

Acosta cried as she has many times in the last week.

Since the Daily News told the story Monday of the team's plight - a gutsy group of neighborhood girls who qualified for a national tournament in Aurora, Colo., but didn't have money for the trip - Acosta's phone has rarely stopped ringing, and the mail keeps coming.

Mail like the greeting card that came with a $1,000 check from Abbott and Hast Mortuary: ``Dear girls, here's a little nudge to get each person to that game in Colorado. Hit one for the Gipper and bring home a trophy and great memories.''

Just a short time ago, the girls had only had $400. Then, they raised about $1,500 through carwashes, candy sales and skating benefits.

Then came the donations.

By Tuesday, $4,787 had arrived, enough to fly them to the tournament - after Acosta persuaded the airline official in charge of group sales to cut the fare from $600 to $300 a person. By Thursday, Acosta was turning people away because the team had $8,600, more than enough.

One man offered to resand, repaint and affix the Sylmar logo on the team's batting helmets.

A sporting goods store donated sports bags with the Sylmar logo on them. Another made T-shirts with the girls' names on them.

Steve Soboroff, a senior adviser to Mayor Richard Riordan, his family and friends sent $4,600.

Local television networks aired the story. KNBC (Channel 4) asked Acosta if she would like the team's departure Wednesday from Los Angeles International Airport to be shown live.

Acosta still can't believe the good fortune.

``It's just overwhelming. What can I say? It's amazing,'' she said. ``(The players) can't believe it. Why is our community paying attention to us?''

Why indeed?

What is it about this group of girls that brought out such emotion?

People love an underdog, especially one that works hard, especially one that doesn't have the advantages many take for granted.

Plainly put, Sylmar doesn't have the resources of the area's well-known travel teams, the Batbusters, Shilohs, Panthers and Stealth. Many Sylmar players have never flown in an airplane.

``They know Sylmar is lower than other teams,'' shortstop Debbie Boshae said. ``The Stealth and them live in Beverly Hills and have dads as lawyers. We have moms on disability.''

People want to help these girls make good.

``We all recognize in the city we live in, it puts so much pressure on them,'' said Enoch Glascock, owner of Abbott and Hast Mortuary in West Los Angeles. ``We as neighbors wanted to do a good thing. We're all simple Americans. We wanted to help kids compete in Colorado in a wholesome environment.''

Glascock grew up poor on a farm in Oklahoma. Sylmar's all-stars reminded him of the value of helping people in need.

``It got me thinking about my youth in Oklahoma and how people reached down and helped me when I didn't have enough,'' he said. ``Women who made me lunch when I didn't have enough food. People who paid me more than they should for cutting their yards. People who spent money to send me to camp.

``I hope they come back with a trophy.''

Acosta asked everyone who called why they wanted to help. Many said they felt the girls were excellent youth role models. At a team practice late last week, Acosta sat her players down and read them every letter they had received. As she read, she broke down and wept, and soon her players did as well. They all embraced on their rough, unmowed, gopher-hole-pocked field.

Utility player Valerie Carbajal believed people relate to a group that plays together, stays together and works hard together. People want this group to get a chance together.

``A lot of people are good but can't get exposure because of financial problems,'' Carbajal said. ``We were out there working hard, going the extra mile to earn the money. Our parents can't afford it.''

Acosta has been so moved by the community support, she has kept every address of every contributor to invite them to a giant thank-you banquet once the team returns from Colorado.

It's one thing the team wants to do with the extra donated money.

``Our community's so great,'' pitcher Casondra Acosta said. ``Complete strangers saying, we're gonna make sure you go. It's overwhelming.''

The Sylmar all-stars will depart Los Angeles International Airport at 6 a.m. Wednesday on United Airlines Flight 548.

CAPTION(S):

5 Photos

PHOTO (1--Color) Sylmar softball players Denise Fierro, left, and Casondra Acosta slap hands in camaraderie during practice Saturday.

(2) Members of the Sylmar softball all-stars celebrate the outpouring of donations that will send the players to a national tournament.

(3) Above, the team's manager , Laura Acosta, said she has been reduced to tears by the amount of assistance offered to the players.

Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News

(4) At left, Casondra Acosta pitches for the Sylmar softball team. ``Our community's so great,'' she said about the outpouring of support to send the team to a Colorado tournament.

(5--Color--Ran in Bulldog Edition only) Members of the Sylmar all-star softball team listen to their manager before a recent practice session. The team will head to Colorado on Wednesday for a national tournament - a trip funded largely by donations.

Terri Thuente/Daily News