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Show Monday, April 4,2005 The Signpost Page 10 Softball team gears up for nationals By BRADY STUART correspondent 1 The Signpost When most people think about softball, they think of summer leagues with teams put together by fellow coworkers who just want to get out and enjoy the warm weather and relive old high school glory days. But for Weber State University, softball is different. The softball team falls under campus recreation, not the athJetic department, and is recognized as a club or organization, much like the hockey, baseball and rodeo teams. There are 19 players that make up the team plus a coach, Julianna Pearson, and a staff adviser, Cherrie Nelson. "I am here to help make sure that everything runs smoothly," said adviser Cherrie Nelson, "and to also give them helpful reminders." The team, like all other clubs, has a president. "I am in charge of all our travel, fundraising, practices, etc., said team president Jennifer BI a c k w e 11. "I pretty much make sure that everything gets done." For practices, each woman has to wake up around 5 a.m., three days per week, in order to make it to the softball diamond for practice by 6 a.m. "We practice Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday for about an hour and half to two hours," said Ashley Aragon, "at the Swenson gym or at the community center in Riverdale." The women's softball team plays during the spring, summer and fall, taking only a short break from practices during winter vacation. "During the fall, we play around 25 games," Blackwell said. "We play about 50 games in a season and travel to about 10 tournaments a year. Our home games are played at a field in Clinton." The women's softball club isn't just waking up early; they've also been burning the midnight 011 putting together fund raisers and clinics to raise money to travel all across the country to play in college tournaments. The team needs to raise almost $12,000 a year to pay for "We'll do auctions, luaus, clinics, even sell pizzas; whatever it takes to get the money we need to play/' - Meghan Boatright, WSU softball team secretary/treasurer travel and expenses. Each player needs to raise an additional S600 to $700 to make up for what the fundraisers don't. "We go out and find sponsors," Aragon said. "I went to a bunch of car dealerships and some friends of my father. I personally brought in about $650." The WSU softball team's main fund raiser is an annual luau and silent auction held at the end of every February. The women also put together youth clinics to help up-and-coming softball players hone their skills. 3' £ n> l l -j- T 111 (13 Q_ QT 'Q E: O < ^ O '"" "2 S n O- 2J" =_ ^ 5 5 S J? ^ 3SJ o =r ri o _, 3 :* o < ^? S-8 2. 5" Tuesday Women's Tennisv. Hawaii @ 2: Qj QJ T> 2- a* B) ID fl) o 3 $ Q, =T. £ Q. O (T> 3 a> = • QJ 3 afD fp TT y c Q. 3- Saturday I Track 6 Field - Wildcat Inultational men's Tennis u. Eastern Wfl (a) 10:00 Women's Tennis u. Eastern UIR o 00 ffl t£n S 5 o 9_ ai 2. o Monday thru Friday • 11 AM to 2 PM FAST LUNCH 13 (Pizza By The Slice) Cheese, Pepperoni, Fresh Tomato or "The Express Slice Of The READY IN MINUTES! 0) X c Jt'UlVl M P I Z Z E R I A 42nd 8. Harrison Blvd. {801)627-1920 Sometimes this isn't enough, though. "We'll do auctions, luaus, clinics, even sell pizzas; whatever it takes to get the money we need to play," said team secretary/ treasurer Meghan Boatright. Because the WSU softball team is a club, they don't receive the funds that sanctioned sports teams do. They hope that WSU will soon sanction another men's team so that, under Title IX, softball can become sanctioned as well. Title IX is a federal law which states that schools must have the same amount of sanctioned sports teams for men and women. If the softball club becomes a sanctioned team, it would receive the much-needed funds to make it to the tournaments they need to prepare for the national championship, as well as the money to travel to nationals. The softball club is considered by many to be one of the most well organized clubs on campus. It also regularly contributes to the community. When not practicing or fundraising, the softball team performs community service to try and give back to Ogden and WSU. The popularity of the softball team has also grown over the last few years. Three years ago, there was no need for tryouts; there was room for everyone who wanted to play. This year, the team had to hold tryouts and more than half the woman who showed up were cut. The team hosts it annual tryouts every June. The WSU softball team is now gearing up for nationals, which will be held the end of April. This year's nationals will be in Maryland. WSU has done well in the past at nationals, taking third two years ago. This year the team has plenty of experience, with about half of its starters returning from last year. "We're going to win this year." Boatright said. "We've put in a lot of hard work, and it's going to pay off." You can leave a message for reporter Brady Stuart by calling 626-7983. |