Comedian Brian Regan once said of softball: “They call it softball; makes it sound like it’s harmless. Have you ever taken a line shot to the face with a softball? You don’t go ‘Hey, that’s Downy soft! That was like a big ball of cotton! Hey, don’t worry about that, that’s blood light. We’re playing softball, we’re all gonna float around like angels!’ “
But don’t let that deter you, ETSU campus recreation and intramural sports director Chris Meister assures that no one has been seriously injured playing intramural softball. Not lately anyway.
Beginning its second year as a fall intramural sport at ETSU, softball steps up to bat (-1 point for a bad pun) Sunday, Sept. 12 with its first games. Roster sheets are due to the CPA office by 9 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2004.
“We have to start as soon as we can to make sure we get all three of our fall sports finished before the Christmas break,” Meister said. “For softball we have to allow time for the regular and post season. We also try to be liberal with the amount of days we have so, if at all possible, we can make up rain outs.”
Rosters are currently available at the CPA if you and a group of friends would like to play. They are located on the second floor at the front desk of the CPA office. Once you enter the building, if you continue down the hallway toward the weight room there is a set of stairs on your right as well as an elevator. By using the stairs, you avoid having to climb the rock wall to the second floor. This is by far the easiest way to reach the office.
“I would just suggest that everyone go ahead and get their roster sheets completed and turned in so you make sure your team gets put into the league,” Meister said. “I know that my staff and I are all excited to begin this year of intramurals.”
The outlook from the league participants is just as optimistic.
“Of course we are very excited for the softball season to begin,” said Dustin Blazer, coach of the Ducksquad intramural softball team. “I’m sure the intramural staff will have everything running smoothly as usual for the softball league and we’re excited to get started playing.”
Steven Trentham sees the beginning of intramural softball as the indication of school beginning. “I can’t wait until we start playing intramural softball,” said Trentham, ETSU sophomore and softball competitor. “To me, I don’t really feel like I’m back at school until we get out there and play some softball.”
If you want to get involved at ETSU, intramurals are one of the many exciting activities offered on campus. If softball sounds like a fun idea for you and your friends, make sure to drop by the CPA and fill out a roster sheet as soon as you can. The deadline once again is 9 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 8.Quick facts:
* Games will be played Sundays – Thursdays
* Rosters are due Wednesday, Sept. 8; captain’s meeting will be Thursday Sept. 9 at 7 p.m.
* There are women’s, men’s recreation, men’s competitive, and co-ed divisions
* Make sure you bring a check for $20 to the meeting. If your team forfeits the season, you forfeit the money. But if your team shows up and plays, then they tear up the check and there’s nothing to worry about.
* Players must provide their own gloves, but will use department issued bats.

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