Varsity fast pitch may be on horizon

The pitches are in.

Last Monday, sophomore Jami Silver and sophomore Sarah Krier paid a visit to Philips gym. Their goal was simple but formidable: get a fast-pitch women's softball team.

Much to their surprise, Athletic Director Don Hunsinger embraced the idea.

"We really support this and think it would be a great addition to the program," Hunsinger said.

In the spring of 1994, the College's compliance with Title IX was questioned because it offered one more men's varsity sport than women's varsity sports. At that time, softball was proposed as a women's sport that could be added to equalize numbers in men's and women's sports.

Though fast-pitch softball was never added, it has been sitting on the backburners of the Athletic Department since then.

Silver and Krier have rekindled the flame.

The two softball players, who have been active fast-pitch softball players for years, missed the sport so much that they began coaching it at Oberlin High School. "We'd love to play," Krier said.

Krier and Silver went to Hunsinger to demand that the school start a fast-pitch softball team.

Currently, Allegheny College, Wittenberg University, Kenyon College, Denison University, Case Western Reserve University and College of Wooster all have fast-pitch softball teams.

Hunsinger said about the possible addition, "We've been at it for about a year."

Since then, Hunsinger has been planning a place for the field and asking people to get estimates for what the field would cost to build.

Hunsinger told Silver and Krier that a fast-pitch softball team was welcome in the program, but he did ask that the two show him the level of interest within the college. Krier and Silver posted a message on Kiosk to advertise the idea and have gotten about fifteen interested people. "And that's not including new students," Krier said.

Hunsinger hopes to start a club team next year and with it established promote it to a varsity sport the year after next. We will continue to try to get support," Silver said. "We're both really excited about it. We never thought we'd play again."