IM Softball in full swing

Freshman Reid Pierce sprints to first in a furry of speed on his way around the bases.

Freshman Nate Boyce works the outfield in a game last Wednesday.

As is typical with that start of any intramural season, witty team names are in high demand as are enthusiastic players. None of these are lacking in this season’s Intramural Softball Tournament, with arguably the best team names being My Couch Pulls Out But I Don’t and Matty V’s Big Wood. Subtle, very subtle. The games began in late March and continue through 8th block, making all jealous who venture to lab, meetings, or studying in the afternoons. 

The tournament consists of two leagues: an Open-League and a Co-ed League, which is further split into the American League and National League. The Co-ed League’s stipulation is that two members of the underrepresented sex must be present on the field at all times, while batting and pitching rules also differ significantly. As the sport is softball, many other rules have been implemented as well to protect members of both leagues, such as required facemasks for catchers, sliding into bases on close plays, and, of course, underhanded pitching. 

All of these “softening” rules breed the kind of intramural atmosphere famous at CC: relaxed, fun, and with great opportunity for costume leeway. The one serious aspect might be the champion t-shirts any intramural team covets and will wear for several days after winning the final tournament, but for the most part people just enjoy hitting a few balls. “With the bat in my hand, I really feel invincible,” as Ben Wallner, one softball participant said. “It’s just so much fun.”

The final games of league play concluded Thursday with the single-elimination tournament beginning April 3.