To anyone that knows me, you know that I am incredibly unathletic and don’t typically pay attention to sports. Why, then, would I of all people be writing for the sports section? I am doing it for the same reason I also joined our ultimate frisbee team, TRON: to try out something new and learn. I am not very good at frisbee, but I play because I enjoy it. Life is all about trying new things and enjoying them, y’know?
What I truly appreciate about frisbee at Brandeis is that you don’t have to try out to join, and you don’t have to be good at playing. After a long day of classes, writing papers, and doing homework, running across a field trying to catch a disc in the air is so head-clearing. The feel of the air and crunch of the grass is a welcome difference from the quiet of the library. This section will not only be my way of learning about our sports teams and what they play, but also a chance to give you a perspective from a non-player. Most people here don’t pay too much attention to sports, but our teams are hard at work preparing for their seasons.
This past week, I was given the opportunity to watch the softball and baseball teams practice on the turf. I didn’t know what to look for when I arrived, but it was an exciting blur of activity. Before I continue, it is important to note the difference between baseball and softball. As I recently learned, softball uses bigger balls, has a smaller playing field, and two fewer innings, or rounds. Both sports involve hitting a ball with a bat and running around bases to get back to the home plate and score points.
At Brandeis, our baseball team is a men’s team and our softball team is a women’s team. The softball team was practicing their pitching and catching, which was very exciting to watch. They all looked in sync and like they were having a lot of fun, which is very important for a victory. As I watched their drills, they were all cheering each other on. Jordan Wallace ’28 shared with me that she is really looking forward to the rest of the season and that the games and practices so far have been fun.
The softball team has won all their games so far, and Jordan says that she loves the synergy she has with her teammates and getting to play with them all. Her final message was to encourage more students to attend home games and support the team.
The baseball team, on the opposite end of the field, was working on a mix of throwing drills. I heard the crack of the bat against the ball and the slap as the ball hit the glove, sounds that I’m not used to hearing, and that made me want to concentrate on the players. Along with the drills, they were also doing some yoga stretches to condition themselves for better playing. I didn’t expect to see yoga on a baseball field, but I know that sports conditioning is a very important aspect of playing, which includes mobility training that leads to better movement and faster running.
Overall, both teams seem very cohesive and I hope to see some Brandeis spirit at our upcoming home games.
