History in the making

Softball originated in Chicago on Thanksgiving Day, 1887. A group of about twenty young men had gathered in the gymnasium of the Farragut Boat Club in order to hear the outcome of the Harvard-Yale football game. After Yale's victory was announced and bets were paid off, a man picked up a stray boxing glove and threw it at someone, who hit it with a pole. George Hancock, usually considered the inventor of softball, shouted, "Let's play ball!" He tied the boxing glove so that it resembled a ball, chalked out a diamond on the floor (smaller dimensions than those of a baseball field in order to fit the gym) and broke off a broom handle to serve as a bat. What proceeded was an odd, smaller version of baseball. That game is now, 111 years later, known as the first softball game.
Softball may have seen its death on the day of its birth if Hancock had not been so fascinated by it. In one week, he created an oversized ball and an undersized rubber-tipped bat and went back to the gym to paint permanent white foul lines on the floor. After he wrote new rules and named the sport indoor baseball, a more organized, yet still new, game was played. Its popularity was immediate.
In order to reach the Olympics, the women's sport of softball obviously had to grow greatly from its beginnings. The first women's softball team was formed in 1895 at Chicago's West Division High School. They did not obtain a coach for competitive play until 1899 and it was difficult to create interest among fans.
The unexplainable love and passion for softball has allowed the sport to grow, develop, and maintain universal appeal throughout time. For the past 111 years, softball, "a game for everyone," has united people with a mysterious feeling.

UK Wildcats

At the beginning of 2009, coaches, players, and fans all believed the UK woman's softball team was headed for a breakthrough season. Kentucky leaped into the middle of the pack in the Southeastern Conference in 2009 after being slated to finish last by the league's coaches in a preseason poll. The Wildcats capped the regular season as the sixth best team in the conference and then went into the SEC Tournament and knocked off top-10 ranked and College World Series participant Georgia, in what became UK's first ever post season victory. They continued into their first appearance at the NCAA in school history. They went 2-2 in the tournament with a loss to Ohio State.
In 2010 the team returns all eight of their starters and the three pitchers in their starting rotation. Knocking off three ranked opponents a year ago and staged five seventh inning comeback efforts, they face a top five ranked schedule. The suprise effect of UK's team is no longer there. Opponents know some of what to expect from the team.
They are making improvements in every area of the game and continuing to strengthen their numbers. The team wants to return to the tournament as one of the best teams in the conference.
From a recent article, one of the teams top players stated, "When you play in the SEC you face the best competition in the nation. In preparing for the SEC we must face tough teams in the non-conference portion of the schedule and we will continue to do that."
*The players for season of 2010 are as follows:
Pitchers- Chanda Bell, Amber Matousek and Rachel Riley
Infielders- Natalie Smith, Samantha DeMartine,Brittany Cervantes,Megan Yocke, Ashleigh Gustafson, Jessica Adkins, Kara Dill and Jessica Rose
Outfielders- Annie Rowlands, Meagan Aull, and Destinee Mordecai

College World Series Champions

The Women's College World Series of softball is just like any other sport, not as easy as it may look. Over the years sitting on the couch, daily, watching game after game of the womens series, I wish I could be in their shoes. Traveling around to different areas, seeing new things, meeting new people, learning day by day, creating new adventures, etc. Playing your heart out and laying it all out on the field in front of thousands of people on TV.
It all starts with team work. As everyone knows, there's no I in team!
The NCAA 2009 Softball Championship was as intense as ever. It started out with many teams all hoping for one thing, the title of Champions. Taking place in Alabama and Oklahoma, the teams set out for a battle they'll never forget. The teams have practiced all year long to get to this point. It is split up into different brackets in order to make it to one final game that will crown the champions. In 2009 Washington took the title and became the number one team. They finished the season with an outstanding 51-12 record.
Washington, with 17 first-place votes, posted a 5-1 record at the 2009 Women’s College World Series, defeating Florida 3-2 in the second game of the Championship Series. Florida dropped to a pre-season fifth-ranking after finishing the year with a 63-5 record, the only team in 2009 to post single digits in the loss column.
The team will start next year off with a type of powerful attitude. Sky high energy. They have a championship behind them, and an even better future to look forward to. They hope to make it just as far in 2010 and improve their skills significantly.

Disney World

Summer going into my 8th grade year, the Banshees team went to Florida. Everyone on the team that wanted to participate could join. Since I was only a measley 8th grader I did not get to play much while in Florida. It didn't matter if I played two minutes the entire trip, the experience was the best part. I felt somewhat cool because I was on the trip with older girls. I ended up being in a room with five other girls which ended up being sloppy, messy, and of course kind of smelly.
Summer going into my senior year, our team went on another trip to Florida, different hotel, same baseball park. This trip is now at the top of my list of "favorite vacations." Being an "almost senior" made me feel pressured to do my best and somewhat of a role model and leader. Each day we got up at the buttcrack of dawn as the sun was just rising and go to either practice, game, or Walt Disney World. Whenever we had free time, off to Disney World we went! The week flew by with exhaustion at the same time as excitement. I don't think I have ever laughed as much as I did that week. From the bus trips, to walking through the parks, to swimming in the pool on our private mini beach like resort, to the long nights spent under the bright lights with sweat dripping from all over, nothing could compare to experiences.
One of my greatest memories from the week was riding the Tower of Terror six times. Sitting in the theater like seats, dropping a significant number of feet when you least expect it, gave major chills up and down my arms and legs. As you fell, a picture was taken of the group. The faces made by my friends were unbelievable. The next time I go back to Disney World or even think about the trip, the thrill and screams of the Tower of Terror will immediately pop into my head. Now being one of my favorite rides, I cannot wait to go back and do the adventure all over again. Going without my teammates will not be the same but still an amazing time!