Wyoming’s hair-brained, temperamental spring and autumn seasons aren’t always hospitable toward some outdoor sports, but that’s not about to stop UW’s Women’s Softball club from enjoying the game.
This is not your uncle’s booze-laden summertime softball league. Women’s Softball is a competitive fastpitch team that competes against other club teams in the region as well as some junior college teams. The team competes each year for the chance to play in a national tournament during the spring semester.
“In the fall we play a lot of preseason type things,” said Jordan Love, president of the Women’s Softball club. “We’ll go to Western Nebraska Community College and play against some community colleges [in a tournament] there … then we’ll do the same thing down in Lamar down at their community college.”
The team is part of the Mid-America West division, Love said, and that in the spring they primarily play against club teams from Colorado. Air Force, the division powerhouse, regularly takes first place in the division.
“Air Force has gone from our division since I’ve been playing as the one-seed,” said Love. “They actually just won regionals, so they’re going to nationals. You pretty much have to place first or second and then go win a regional tournament.”
Women’s Softball has been close in recent years, placing second during Love’s first two seasons, but hasn’t yet made it to the regional competition. Love says that it’s not all about making it to the big show, though.
“It’s just one of those sports you can play forever. It’s nice that you can still play competitively fast-pitch wise, rather than having to go play slow-pitch. I think people know that it’s just one of those sports that you know the skills and they never go away, so I think that’s why people still go out and play. It’s like riding a bike.”
While the Women’s Softball team is done for the year, they plan to begin practicing again as soon as class starts up for the fall semester. Love said she hopes for another year of good turnout in the 15-player range and emphasized that anyone is welcome to take part.
“I feel like people don’t really know about club sports, in general, and that we’re here and that we’re always open to new people,” Love said. “We’re open to anyone, any skill level. We have coaches that’ll help you and it’s just a really fun time. I’ve met most of my friends on the softball team.”
